Vavilov

February 1927 Interior Abyssinia as well as the Gonder region is full of endemic species. There are enormous crops of Abyssinian teff (Eragrostis tef); interesting, peculiar and variable wheat in an unbelievable mixture of forms; and mixed crops of barley, including black naked ones not known anywhere else in the world. There are large quantities [...]

February 1927 The main road runs through the ‘dega,’ i.e. the highland. Ankober is situated at an elevation of 2700 metres. The capital, Addis Ababa, is itself located at an altitude of 2440 metres. The main mass of the agricultural population is concentrated on this plateau, which is the principal zone of bread grains. The [...]

January 1927 The low cost of living in Abyssinia made it possible to outfit a large caravan for an expedition. … Usually mules are used for long distances; horses are used only for short stretches, since they have less endurance under the conditions prevailing in Abyssinia. According to the customs of this country it was [...]

January 1927 The Italian mission showed great interest in the Soviet professor. After learning of my intention to go to Asmara in Eritrea, the Italian envoy lent me his servant, an Amharan named Hakim. He could to some extent act as an interpreter, since he knew the Italian language and we could, thus, understand each [...]