G/LlM/XEyK 107 



riTALAItlDIF^K. 

 Hpileh'tt hermnphrodite, moncecious, or polygainouif, in a spicats panicle, or in spikes 

 with 2 Jiowers, hemaphrodite, female or male, or with 2 or S flowers, the upper only 

 fertile. Glumes usualli/ equal. Glumelles more or less hardened after flowering. Lower 

 glumelles of the fertile flower facing the lower glume. Stamens .3 or 2. Caryopsis 

 with a linear or punctifurm spot. Stigmas long or filiform, protruding at the tup or 

 sides of the flower. 



Zev. 

 *Z. Mats. 



Pyoung-bi. ATaize. Indian Corn. 



C'oi.x, Linnceus. 

 C. LACETii.v, L. Burma. Ceylon. 



Job's tears. 



Dr. llason enumerates several vernacular names for species of Coix : Ka-lc-tlii. 

 Ka-le-pouk-pouk. Ka-lc-hmen. Ka-le-slii. Ka-le-theing. And in Sgau Karen, J3en- 

 wai-thu. 



TLc Coix affords a good example of the results of cultivation on a wild plant, 

 the seed of which is of a stony hardness, but which is soft in the cultivated form and 

 the kernel sweet. It is much cultivated by the Red Karens, and may be often seen 

 for sale parched in the bazaars. Dr. INIason adds: "The Karens in the Southern 

 Provinces cultivate one or two species of Job's tears for the seed. The Pwos plant 

 a species with round seeds, which are used to ornament the borders of their tunics, 

 but they are never seen on a woman's gown. The Sgaus on the contraiy cultivate 

 a species bearing an oval seed and use them merely for embroideiing female dresses. 

 In Amherst Province, the Pwos seldom appear in their native costume, and many 

 deny that their tribe ever had any other than that which they now wear, which is 

 Burmese." 



C. GiGAicTEA, Kon. Bengal. 



C. AQUATICA, Roxb. Bengal (Srirampur). 



C. HETEEOCLrrA, Eo.xb. Bengal (Srirampur). 



CnioxAcnxE, i?. Browne. 

 C. (Coix) Koenioii, Spreng. India. Ceylon. 



Coix barhata, Iloxb. 



ORTZIE^T.. 



Spikelets all fertile, in a raceme or panicle, one-flowered, often with arrested glumes, 

 or 2 or H-flowered, the lower nenter, with 1 glumellc, the terminal only fertile. 

 Glumelles chartaceous, stij}'. Stamens usually G, often 3 or 4, rarely 1. Caryopsis with 

 a linear hilary spot. Stigma divergent, protruding at the sides of the flower. 



Okyza, Zi. 



*0. SATIVA, L. 



Sa-ba. Rice. 



"Rice (Dr. Mason remarks) is universally cultivated, and its cultivation has 

 produced many varieties. The Karens have distinctive names for more than forty, 

 and Karen mountain rice is preferred by many to that which is raised by tlie Burmese 

 on the low lands, yet it is said not to be so nutritious, and on this account bears a 

 less price in the Bazaar. It is of all colours, from ivory-white to coal-black. Of the 

 black rice the Karens prepare a kiiul of bread, which to them supplies the ])lace of 

 gingerbread. .\ portion of seetlied rice is poured into a large mortar with a prodigious 

 quantity of sesamum seeds. Two women then take their strong ebony pestles and 

 pound it, striking alternately till it becomes a light-bounding mass. It is then 

 thrown upon the eating stand, when the whole family scat themselves round it, in 

 Oriental style, and dissever it with their- sabres. 



