WEATHER. 285 



the end of May or beginning of June, One 

 fhould imagine that the viciffitudes of rain and 

 warmth would now more forward the growth 

 of the rice, than at the time of the firft 

 crop : however, they are obliged to wait longer 

 this time, ' and to count a hundred and thirty- 

 days from the planting to the reaping of the 

 rice ; for which reafon the harveft falls out in 

 September, 



The low grounds are planted with rice- 

 plants, towards the end of April or beginning 

 of May. This crop requires as many days to 

 ripen as that on the other fields; and the crop 

 generally becomes ripe in September, After 

 this, the ground is not ufed till April, during 

 which time the /lumps and roots of the rice- 

 plants are fo mouldered, that they quite be- 

 come earth at the time of ploughing. 



As foon as the rice begins to grow white, it 

 is cut with fickles, (the blades of which are 

 dentated like, faws), bound up in fheaves, and 

 carried to high dry places, where it is dried 

 and put under cover till it is to be thfefhed* 

 The threfhed rice is yet in its hulk, and is 

 called paddy; it is either ufed for feed, or as 

 fodder for the cattle ; but before the people 



rife 



