276 SEVENTH REPORT—1837. 
heads are broken off by women, and strewed round the pole* 
to the depth of 5 or 6 inches. In the ligneous pulses, the 
extreme twigs, bearing the legumes, are broken off and 
strewed round the pole; and in the herbaceous leguminous 
pulses and straw-culm grains, the whole plant is put on the 
floor : six, or eight, or more bullocks (I saw sixteen at Munchur) 
are tied side by side, half on one side of the pole and half on 
the other ; they are muzzled and driven round the pole, tread- 
ing out the grain. This process usually occupies two men, 
and it is called the Mudinee. It is neither inefficient, nor 
dilatory. It would appear to be of great antiquity, and 
widely practised; in Deuteronomy, xxv. 4. we read, ‘‘ Thou 
shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn.” 
Winnowing.~-We are now brought to the winnowing the 
grain. ‘This is dore in the Kulleh; and when there are suffi- 
cient members in the family of the farmer after the first tread- 
ing, the process is carried on simultaneously with the 
Mullnee. ‘The process is very simple, but certainly not very 
efficient, as it is dependent on the wind blowing. In case the 
wind blows very hard, the grain is blown away; and in case the 
wind is not strong enough, the husks fall with the grain. A man 
stands upon a tall three-legged form, called the Wawhree, and 
pours the grain taken up from the treading ground, out of 
the winnowing basket (oopunwutee). The full grain falls per- 
pendicularly and is pretty free from husks, but the lighter 
grain falls obliquely, and is partially mixed with the husks. 
A man sits at the base of the stool or form with a broom 
(aatuee) in his hand to assist in removing the chaff from the 
edges of the mass of fallen grain. After all is done, however, 
it is requisite to pass a good proportion of the grain through 
the sieve, (Chalun). After the grain is winnowed it is carried 
home and laid in store. 
Preserving Grain.—There are various ways of preser- 
ving the grain. Where the soil is sufficiently dry, cham- 
bers are dug in the earth for it; but the most usual plan in © 
the districts is to preserve it in large baskets, called Kuneeng, 
made of twigs of the Neergoondee, (Vitex trifolia,) or of those 
of the Tooree, (Cytisus cajan). These baskets are plastered 
with cow-dung inside and out, and are perfectly impervious to 
rain or damp. Where the habitations are sufficiently large, 
or the baskets few in number, they are lodged in the house, 
but not unfrequently are placed outside of the house within 
reach of any pilfering hand. A few stones are put under each 
* Tewrah. 
RAED AIS vt mm My 
