February
1927
On the way from Fiche through Godzham [1] to Gonder and Aksum the caravan often passed cemeteries. These are something like botanical gardens. Usually the cemeteries are situated in forests and around the graves all kinds of trees are planted, in part brought from far away. Here also rare species, including citrus trees, are frequently encountered. But, in general, groves of eucalyptus, considered especially fit for the souls of the Abyssinians, are planted. [2] The cemeteries attract travellers for their shade but also because there it is always possible to obtain fodder for the mules and provisions for the people. According to custom, 40 days after a burial, a funeral feast is held in the cemetery. It is self-evident that at the feast there is an abundance of honey and flat-cakes made of wheat and teff. In other words, this is a kind of permanent inn, where without fail the most needed things can be found.
Members of the Field Museum 1927 expedition to Abyssinia
At the same time as Vavilov and his caravan were exploring Gojjam, so was an expedition from the Field Museum in Chicago. Did their paths cross? A quick search suggests not, but …
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