2ft punt's NATURAL niSTORT. [Book XVIII. 



both a cultivated and a ^xiW barley, from which tiiey make 

 excellent bread, as well as alica."" But the most favourite 

 food of all there is rice,"^ from which they prei^are a ptisan" 

 similar to that made from barley in other parts of the world. 

 The leaves of rice are fleshy,*-^ very like those of the leek, but 

 broader; tlie stem is a cubit in height, the blossom purple, 

 and the root globular, like a pearl in shape.''* 



CUAP. 14. POLENTA. 



Earley is one of the most ancient aliments of man, a fact 

 that is proved by a custom of the Athenians, mentioned by 

 Menander,*^ as also by the name of "hordearii,"^^ that used to 

 be given to gladiators. The Greeks, too, prefer barley to any- 

 thing else for making polenta.*'' This food is made in various 

 ways : in Greece, the barley is first steeped in water, and then 

 l(^tt a night to dry. The next day they parch it, and then 

 grind it in the mill. Some persons parch it more highh', and 

 then sprinkle it again with a little water; after which they 

 dry it for grinding. Others shake the grain from out of the 

 car while green, and, after cleaning and soaking it in water, 

 pound it in a mortar. They then wash tlie paste in baskets, 

 and leave it to dry in the sun ; after which they pound it again, 

 clean it, and grind it in the mill. But whatever the mode of 

 preparation adopted, the proportions are always t\venty pounds 

 of barley to three pounds of linseed,*® half a pound of coriander, 

 and fifteen drachmae *^ of salt : the ingredients are first parched, 

 and then ground in the mill. 



Those who want it for keeping, store it in new earthen 

 vessels, with fine flour and bran. In Italy, the barley is 

 parched without being steeped in water, and then g^round to a 



=" Thore is r.o wild barley in India at the present day. 



«" P.u-ridgo, or fi'rmcnty. 4i Orvza sativa of Linnseus. 



*• Like our nco-milk, probably. See £. xxii. c. 26. 



" They are not carnose or fleshy, but thin, and similar to those of the 

 reed. 



** On the contrary, it is tough and fibrous. 



** The barloy wa.s, originally, the prize given to the victor in the Eleu- 

 sinian games. 



" ?rl " '^■'""Irj-''^*^-" *' The aXrpirov of the Greeks. 



1 hiH, as P 6c observes, would tend to give it a very disagreeable flavour. 

 *» " Acetabulum." "^ ° 



