BOTANICAL WANDERINGS IN THE SOUTH. 



mate, proceeded to a corner of the cottage, and, seizing a 

 small " cogie," went out into the dark. Her husband rose 

 immediately, cleaned a large pot, and placed it empty on 

 the fire, which he had replenished with peats, and he then 

 followed his wife. John viewed the silent proceedings in 

 utter amazement increased by his thus being left alone in 

 the picturesque hut at the active preparations when there 

 seemed nothing to be cooked, and at the unusual capacity 

 of the pot, as it hung open and empty above the fire. 



His host returned in all haste, with a large sheaf of 

 yellow corn, which he had just cut with the sickle in his 

 hand. The oats he held over the great pot, and in a short 

 time, set them on fire. The chaff was speedily consumed 

 in the bright blaze, and the grains dropped into the pot. 

 There they were quickly dried and scorched as if in a kiln, 

 when a pair of bellows was used to blow away the charred 

 portions of the husks. A " quern," or handmill, was then 

 carried from the back of the apartment. This consisted of 

 two circular flat stones. The lower remained stationary 

 while the other was made quickly to revolve, grinding into 

 beautiful oatmeal the hard dry grain, which was poured 

 into a hole in the centre by the dexterous mountaineer. 



By this time, his wife entered, bright, smiling, and rosy 

 from work in the byre, carrying a " cogie " full of reaming 

 milk. Expert as her husband, with whom she talked with 

 what seemed to John extraordinary volubility, she cleaned 

 a smaller pot and put it on the fire, while addressing broken 

 but reassuring words to the interested and astonished 

 stranger. She soon had a large dish of excellent porridge 

 and a bowl of sweetest milk placed before her guest, all in 

 less than an hour from his entering the breadless hut! 



