DIXAN. 
507 
" The present seems to be the season of spring in this country; 
some of the inhabitants are now ploughing their fields with wooden 
ploughs. These are rudely shaped out of the root or branch of a 
tree, and sometimes the shares are formed of iron. After twice 
ploughing the land, the clods are broken with rude hooked 
instruments by the women, who at the same time pick out the 
weeds; the grain is then strewn upon the ground, and they seem 
to make choice ol' the worst samples for seed. There are a great 
number of goats belonging to this place, but they are now mostly 
dry, in consequence of which milk is not to be obtained without 
great difficulty; the whole that we have been able to procure has 
not exceeded a pint per day. A small goat costs half a dollar. The 
sheep are most of them black, but some of them have white faces : 
the skins of all are valuable commodities, as they make excellent 
coverings ; and no man moves a hundred yards from his house 
without having one hung over his shoulders. 
" We have as yet observed but few cows, and those miseraby 
poor. There is plenty of barley and juwarry, but we have not 
hitherto seen any wheat. 
" White cloths are preferred at Dixan before any other colour. 
Tobacco, black pepper, looking-glasses, snuff, spirits, and large 
beads, are good articles for barter : green beads are at present in 
fashion, and therefore fetch a better price than any others. 
'•' The musical instrument that we heard at Massowah, and 
which I imagine to be Bruce's lyre, is in use here ; it was played 
upon by one of the young priests. Their singing is, if possible, 
ruder than their music, and both together are intolerable. 
" Bruce says that they allow no figures in relief; the few that, 
VOL. II. 3 T ^ 
