PROSPECTS OF E. EQUATORIAL AFRICA. 545 
where it is the same species as the Abyssinian plant, 
which, it is supposed, being first introduced from the 
kingdom of Kaffa to the south of Abyssinia, thence 
derives its name. Coffee-planting would succeed ad¬ 
mirably in districts like Usambara, which may be 
regarded as the natural home of this shrub, which is, 
indeed, indigenous to the African continent. I might 
mention that cardamums are produced here, and sem- 
sem seed is also largely reported for making spurious 
olive oil. 
On the trees growing in the Kilima-njaro and Usam¬ 
bara forests, orchilla weed, in incredible quantities, is 
found growing. When delivered half clean, that is 
to say, mixed with sticks and rubbish, on the coast, it 
fetches from 3 to 3i dollars per frasilah of 35 lbs. 
As regards minerals, iron ore is found in some 
abundance, and copper apparently also; since the 
natives possess rude rings and ornaments of this metal 
which have not come from the coast. Nitrate of soda 
covers vast plains to the south, west, and north of 
Kilima-njaro. 
There is good building stone in many parts of the 
country. Limestone often appears. 
And now, having briefly noted some of the pro¬ 
ductions with which this part of Africa is naturally 
endowed, I may mention others which owe their intro¬ 
duction or development to the agency of man. 
Vast herds of cattle are kept not only by the Masai, 
whose very raison-d’etre, as it were, consists in cattle 
breeding, but also by the agricultural races on the 
borders of Lake Yictoria Nyanza, and in the mountain 
districts everywhere. When I was residing on Kilima¬ 
njaro 1 not only purchased excellent beef at about 
ten shillings a bullock, but also procured daily so much 
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