December
1926
The main agricultural area of Abyssinia is situated at an altitude between 1600 and 3000 metres. In regard to climate and vegetation Abyssinia can be divided into three main zones: the ‘voina,’ situated below 1800 metres with an almost tropical climate; the ‘dega,’ the alpine region reaching altitudes of 2400-3000 m; and the ‘dega voina,’ distributed between 1800 and 2400 metres. The train stopped at the station [1] of Dire Dawa, [2] at a distance of about 50 km from Harer, the first major agricultural centre along my route. Although I had not reached Addis Ababa I decided to stop there and start my investigations. I did not know what was ahead or how I would be received by the government. Here, with the help of travelling acquaintances, it was possible to organize a small caravan and in the course of a few days make a tour of this important area and collect material. It could not possibly have been better.
The Harer region, situated at elevations between 1600 and 2000, gave a clear picture of the complete specificity of the Abyssinian culture. Everything turned out to be totally different here: the composition of the cultivated and wild plants, the agrotechnology and the climate. All agricultural crops turned out to be definitely endemic.
Notes:
- Flickr photograph by A. Davey. [↩]
- A town with its own Facebook Page, should that be your thing. [↩]
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