They were long flowing robes with wide sleeves to protect them from the sun. The women also wear colorful turbans and carry their babies on their back, in a cloth sling.
Kano is a caravan town in North Nigeria. See there how farmers live in the villages nearby. The soil of this area is sandy because of sparse rainfall which allows the Hausas to grow groundnuts, millet, yams and tapioca. There are large and small houses in this area but they are all built with flat roofs and small windows. The dried millet stalks are used as a framework for the walls and are plastered with wet clay which dries and becomes hard. The houses are set close together and the whole villages are fenced with millet stalks, to protect the villagers from the lions, jackals and hyenas that abound in this area.
The ground nuts are sown in May at the beginning of the hot, wet season. Land is dug up and manure and groundnut seeds are planted in long, straight rows. The seed germinates and soon a shoot begins to spread it self across the ground. After about five weeks pale, waxy, yellow flowers begin to appear from under the leaves. The stem then begins to thicken and the nuts developing under the ground, which gives this nut name. As groundnuts are a favorite with birds, animals and men, this is nature’s way of protecting them. By October the nuts are ready to be harvested.
The Hausa way of farming is known as peasant farming. The male members of the family use digging sticks to prepare the ground. Those members of the tribe who are more modern now use wooden ploughs drawn by bullocks.
The women shell the groundnuts and get them ready for export. Due to the dry weather to sacks of nuts can be stored in the open until they are moved to the coast. Since groundnut is a cash crop, great care is taken with its harvest and preparation.
Other food crops are millet, sweet potato, yam and tapioca. Millet is pounded and then boiled into a paste which is eaten with meat or soup. Tapioca is also made into a soup called tebba. Yam, when harvested, is stored by being tied to bamboo stakes which allow air to pass freely al round them. Some times, some of the groundnuts are roasted and pounded into a paste and eaten.
Apart from agriculture, the Hausas also keep cattle and chicken. Like people in India, they are good at cottage industries and are very clever with their hands. They weave cloth on looms at home and make articles of leather and grass and wood. Most of the Hausas are Muslims, though they have contact with people of other religions. Occasional trips are made to Kano, the collecting centre for groundnut.
The Masai
The African savanna has been a home to human beings since millions of years. And cattle have been herded ever since.
The Masai of Kenya and Tanzania are the most famous cattle-herders or `pastoralists’ of this region today. They keep goats, sheep and the humped Zebu type of cattle. Not all Masai are nomadic. Some have settled down and practice primitive agriculture. Their houses are circular in shape with thatched roofs and walls plastered with mud and cow dung. The huts are surrounded by thorn fences called bomas.
The Arusha are a group of Masai who cultivate many crops such as cotton, hemp, millet, bean, sweet potato, groundnut and yam.
Many of the Masai today are educated and they work amongst their own people. They are teachers and agricultural experts too, improving the quality of crops, animals and the lives of people in those regions.
What did Edmund Hillary and his team of mountaineers munch as they struggled to reach Mount Everest?
What did the astronauts carry with them aboard their spacecrafts?
What is the most commonly given gift, delighting the person who receives it?
The answer is a nine –letters word- chocolate.
Chocolate can be eaten as a sweet, it can be sipped as a drink; it is a favorite flavoring for cakes and ice-creams. And all this is the miracle of a small, bitter bean –the seed of the cacao tree.
The cacao tree was discovered in Africa almost four thousand years ago. Much later, it was found in Mexico, where a traveler saw the king drinking cup after cup of a bitter liquid made from the cacao beans. It was considered so precious, that it was served in golden cups. Here cacao beans were used as currency too.
The English made it into a sweet drink by adding sugar and milk. It became so popular, that `chocolate houses,’ just like coffee-houses today, could be found all over the city of London.
It was only towards the end of the last century that the Swiss found a way of making `eating chocolate’.
The cacao beans travel a long way, before they are used in the mouth –watering chocolate that we love.
Cacao trees are grown in plantations. The pods grow on the trunks and lower branches. When ripe, they are red or yellow in color. After pods are harvested, they are split open, and the beans inside are removed. They are separated and left out to dry. Each pod contains twenty to forty beans. The dried beans are then out into bags, ready to be shipped across the seas.
At a chocolate factory the beans are cleaned, roasted and shelled. They are then broken into pieces called nibs. These nibs are put into large crushing machines to get dark liquid called chocolate liquor. This liquid is then heated to give cocoa butter and cocoa power.
To make the smoothest chocolate, cocoa powder, cocoa butter, milk and sugar are mixed together and churned for many hours. However, each chocolate maker has his own special recipe. It’s kept a secret.
That is why each brand name has a different taste. And giving chocolate news is a special magazine, printed in chocolate-colored and chocolate-scented ink!
1889 March 31, 1:30 PM.
Gustavo Eiffel stepped at the top of the tower in his dream ascending One thousand seven hundred and ten ( 1710 ) steps. He had a flag in his hand. It was none other than the flag of France , one of the developed and powerful countries in the world. Gustavo Eiffel flagged the French National Flag at the top of the tower. Then he told to the world " World's only flag post having an height 300 ft will be France's ". Yes , he made the occasion too good through this funny statement , but a true statement also.
Do you know which was that Himalayan tower that Eiffel ascended on ? Being French flag in hands of Gustavo Eiffel a wild but intelligent guess may make you to answer this question. It was nothing but the world famous Eiffel Tower.
Now 120 years ( One hundred and twenty years ) had passed after the erection of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. You know Paris is the capital city of France. Any one who visit Paris will see the marvellous Eiffel Tower since it has been constructed in such a way that , it can be seen from any side of Paris. If you reach Paris you can see Eiffel tower by looking in any one of your direction – say north , south , east or west. So one will not feel sorry that I hadn’t seen Eiffel tower even though I visited Paris.
In the world some countries have their own structure icons. You might know some famous among them. Our mother land India has so many such icons. But world considers one of them as the icon of the country which comes into our memory when ever we mention the name of the country. Here is a list of such world icons . United States has Statue of Liberty in New York , England had Big Ben in London , India had Taj Mahal at Agra , Italy has Coliseum in Rome , China has Great Wall extending through a long distance of the country and France has Eiffel Tower in Paris. It is one of the marvellous construction of not only France but also the whole world.So Eiffel toweris one of the historical places and best tourist spot of the world also.
Eiffel Tower was a golden quill on the crown of Eiffel. As I told earlier USA had the famous Statue of Liberty . Eiffel was already famous by designing the iron cover of Statue of Liberty in New York. Actually the Eiffel Tower was created as a temporary structure. But that temporary structure remained there for this much years and had survived through all seasons without any destruction. Now its age is 120 years . The creator had gone behind the curtain years ago. But still the name of creator is in the minds of people through the name of the tower.
Eiffel Tower is now the global icon of France and is one of the most recognisable structure in the world. You might have heard about the French Revolution in 1789. In 1889 the French Government decided to conduct a world fair. The fair was to memorise the historic activities of French Revolution .This 1889 world fair named as Exposition Universalla by the French Government. To attract all people of France to the fair government also took decision to built a huge , marvellous and worth seeing entrance arch. The famous architect of that period Gustavo Eiffel was decided to be the man to design and built the entrance arch.
Soon after submission of the model plan the French Government reviewed the plan. They coined it as a beautiful structure of the world to be made in steel. Soon after reviewing the plan got approved. The construction also started immediately. The construction of the tower was completed within two years.
Actually the design was made for some other fair in Barcelona of Spain. But the model was not accepted by the festival committee. So Eiffel had no need neither to throw his dream structure nor to design a new one for this great event. Thus Eiffel Tower came into existence. The height of Eiffel tower is 1063 ft. It was the tallest building in the world till 1930. After that a number of new buildings taller than Eiffel Tower were constructed. Now all of you know the recently opened Burj Khaleefa of Dubai is the tallest building in the world. Still Eiffel tower remains as one of the tallest tower in the world.
The Eiffel Tower is fully made of steel and is a free standing tower. The actual place of location of Eiffel tower is Champ de Mars. Champ de Mars means the Field of Mars. This is a famous location in Paris. The total weight of the tower is approximately 10000 tons ( Ten thousand tons . 1 ton = 100 quintals and 1 quintal = 100 Kilo Grams )
I had told the height of Eiffel tower is 1063 Ft. Can you imagine how many floors or levels will be there for such a high tower. Those who seen the picture of Eiffel tower may be able to say it easily. Surely a guess will make you to say a number ten or higher than ten. But there are only three levels for Eiffel Tower !! One can access the first and second levels either by lift or by foot. These first two levels have only restaurants. Yes , dining by sitting in such a height may be a great experience. Also when the levels are ascended by foot surely you will need some refreshment on reaching the first level. For those lazy men and aged people lift is provided. The entry tickets for entering the third level are sold in stairs and lifts. The third layer is not accessible by foot. It is permitted to access the third layer through lift only.
Now guys , when you see the picture of Eiffel tower just bow your head considering its age. It is 120 years old !!! Hope once any one of us also will have a chance to visit this best tourist spot in the world.
-Abid Areacode
In ancient India there are many cities and states that have a great influence in our history and very near from our place of residence but still unknown to us.Let’s find out where they lies and what is their historical significance.
In sixth century BC Large states were known as Mahajanapadas and agricultural settlements comes under them were known as Janapadas. Kashi was the most powerful state of the time and it’s capital is Varanasi.Kashi had emerged as leading textile manufacturer in the time of the Buddha.
Koshala was bounded on the west by the river Gomati, on the south by the Sarpika or Syandika(Sai),on the east by the Sadanira(Gandak) which separated it from Videha, and on the north by the Nepal hills.Ayodhya, Saketa and Shravasti were three important Koshalan cities.
Anga on the east of Magadha was separated from it by the river Champa.It comprises of the modern districts of Munger and Bhagalpur.Its capital Champa(not the river) was known for its wealth and commerce.
Between Anga and Vatsa there lay the kingdom of Magadha, corresponding to modern Patna and Gaya districts.The rulers of magadha,i.e. Bimbisara and Ajatashatru were the Buddha’s friends and disciples.Gaya was the place of the Buddha’s enlightenment and Rajagriha was one of his favourite haunts. Magadha’s Capital was Rajagriha, also known as Girivraja.
The vajji territory lay north of the Ganga and stretched as far as the Nepal hills. The Vajji state is said to have been a confederation of eight clans (atthakula), of whom the Videhans, the Lichchhavis, the Jnatrikas and the Vrijjis were the most important.
The territory of the non-monarchical Mallas was divided into two parts, each having its own capital.The two capital cities were Kushinara(identified with Kasia in Gorakhpur district), and Pava, possibly identical with Pawapuri in Patna district.
The kingdom of Chedis corresponded roughly to the eastern parts of Bundelkhand and adjoining areas, and their king lists occur in the Buddhist birth stories.
The Shurasena Kingdom, had its capital at Mathura.
Kuru, Panchala and Matsya were the three tribal polities whose existence is traceable to the preceding period. The kurus settled in the region of Delhi-Meerut, and allied with the Panchalas; their trade cenre is said to have been visited by the Buddha. A branch of the Panchalas had a capital at Kampilla, perhaps modern Kampil in Farrukhabad district.Not much information is available about the Matsyas,who are traditionally associated with modern Jaipur-Bharatpur-Alwar region of Rajasthan; It was more suitable for cattle rearing.
Kamboja nad Gandhara were farthest away from Magadha. The first lay in Afghanistan; the second extended upto the Kabul valley with Taxila as its leading city.
The territory of the Assakas(Ashmakas) was situated on the banks of the river Godavari near modern Paithan in Maharashtra. The state of Avanti lay in central Malwa and the adjoining areas of Madhya Pradesh.Divided into two parts,its southern capital was Mahishmati and its northern Ujjain, which became more important of the two.
The Vatsa capital lay 64 km form Allahabad at Kaushambi(modern Kosam) on the bank of the Yamuna. Kaushambi and Ujjain were connected by a major trade route, and they msut have benefited from the north-Indian trade.
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