352 OSBECK'S VOYAGE. 



cannot overflow the field, this inconvenience 

 is remedied by water machines, but moflly by 

 two Chinefe who iland near the water, and 

 water the ground with buckets. To each of 

 the ears of the bucket they fallen a firing, 

 and ftand oppofite to one another, each twin- 

 ing his cord together : they then fink the buck- 

 et into the water, and when it is full each 

 pulls at his firing, by which means the bucket 

 is both drawn out of the water and overturn- 

 ed by the rope that was twilled together and 

 untwifls itfelf ; and by this means the water 

 runs over the higher rice fields, which can- 

 not be overflowed. Ditches are fcarce ob- 

 fervable in the rice fields ; but there are little 

 canals, in order to enable them in harvefl time 

 to get between with their boats, and carry the 

 rice from them to the high places, in order 

 that it may be dried, after that they have paid 

 the tythe in the cuflom-houfe. This fpecies 

 of corn bears very plentifully here, but colls 

 a deal of labour. The bread which is baked 

 for the Europeans (a katty or pound of which 

 at preient was fold at four kanderin two kas) 

 is not made of rice, but of wheat, which, to- 

 gether with rye and barley, is laid to grow- 

 further up in the country. When the Chinefe 

 mix rice flour with it (which they often do 



unlefs 



