RICE-FIELDS. 2 8 t 



the rice begins to come up, they keep the field 

 about a hand's breadth deep under water ; and 

 after thirty days the rice plants are ready to 

 be tranfplanted into larger fields. 



They are not very curious in tranfplanting, 

 to place the plants in flrait lines ; but very 

 careful that every rice plant has the necef- 

 fary room, which is generally about eight or 

 nine inches from one another. The tranf- 

 planting itfelf is tranfafted (as all their other 

 bufinefs is) with great eafe, and in fuch a man- 

 ner, that they crop off about two inches from 

 the top of the plants, and plant each by itfelf: 

 but when they are too fmall, they plant feve<* 

 ral together fo deep into the foft foil, that the 

 roots immerfe full two inches. When the 

 rice is tranfplanted in this manner, they do not 

 meddle with it any more, except that now and 

 then while it is yet tender, they examine 

 whether the worms and little crabs do it any 

 damage: in which cafe, they fupply the place 

 of the deflroyed plants with frefh ones, and 

 afterwards fpread fome lime, which annoys 

 thefe animals, 



M O N- 



