RICE, MILLET 



31 



home consumption, and it is from the low-lying lands of 

 Burmah that we receive our chief supplies. Rangoon is the 

 chief centre for export. 



We import about 5 million cwt. from British India, and 

 a certain amount from foreign countries, chiefly from French 

 Indo-China and Siam. 



RICE CULTIVATION, MALAY STATES 



MILLET (Sorghum vulgare) . ' The Millie hath long eares, and 

 is a seed of colour like Hempe-seed, and long like Canarie- 

 seed, it hath no shels, but groweth in a little huske, and is 

 very white within. ... It groweth and is ripe in three months, 

 and when it is cut down, it lyeth a month after in the fields 

 to dry, and then the eares are cut off and bound in sheafes, 

 and so carryed home to their Houses. They use the straw 

 to cover their Houses withall. This Millie is a very excellent 

 graine, hath a good taste and is wholesome to eate, it is sweet 

 in your mouth, but gnasheth in your teeth, which cometh 

 of the stone wherewith they grind it.' l 



1 ' A Description of Guinea, A. D. 1600 ' (Purchas, His Pilgrimes). 



