Economic Life 405 



stone is rocked until a fine flour is produced (Plate LIX). Stone disk 

 grinders, imported from the coast, are also in use. These consist of 

 grooved stones, the upper of which revolves* on the lower. Grain is fed 

 into an opening at the top as needed. Dried corn, popped in the embers 

 of a fire, is much relished by the children. 



Several varieties of squash, 1 and beans, as well as peanuts (mant) 

 are among the common products of the garden. The former are trained 

 to run over a low trellis or frame to prevent injury to the blossoms 

 from a driving rain. Both blossoms and the mature vegetables are 

 used as food. 



Among the minor products are ginger, laya {Zingiber officinale 

 Rose.) and a small melon, locally known as melod, which is used as a 

 sweetening. Sugar cane, onas (Saccharum) , is raised in considerable 

 quantity, and is used in making an intoxicating drink known as basi. 

 It is also eaten raw in place of a sweetmeat, but is never converted into 

 sugar. Nowadays the juice is extracted by passing the cane between 

 two cylinders of wood with intermeshing teeth. Motive power is fur- 

 nished by a carabao attached to a long sweep. This is doubtless a recent 

 introduction, but it has entirely superseded any older method. 



The cane is raised from cuttings which are set in mud-beds until 

 ready to be transferred to the mountain-side clearings. These lands 

 are prepared in the same manner as the upland rice fields already de- 

 scribed. The men dig shallow holes and set each plant upright, while 

 the women follow, filling the hole with water and then pressing earth 

 in with fingers or toes. 



In addition to these food crops, considerable plantings of cotton 

 or kapas (Gossypium sp.) and tobacco or tabd-o (Nicotiana tabacum) 

 are raised in the clearings. The former is planted on the hillsides, where 

 it matures in three or four months. The plant seldom reaches a height 

 of two feet, and the bolls are small, doubtless due to lack of care and 

 suitable fertilization. 2 



Tobacco seeds are sprouted in beds similar to those used for the 

 rice, and the same magical device is used to insure a lusty growth. The 

 young plants are carefully watered and shaded until they reach a 

 height of five or six inches. They are then transplanted to hillside 

 clearings, or to unused rice fields, where they are set out about three 



1 The three common varieties of squash are kalabasa (Bcnincasa certifcra), 

 tabongau and tankoy (Curcubita sp.). 



"In the vicinity of Bakaok a small amount of maguey (Agave cantula 

 Roxb.) is raised. It is employed in the making of cords. 



