160 REAPIJNG. 



fingers' ends were still more easily shorn by 

 unpractised operators. I nearly lost an useful 

 digit at the second joint, by an ill-aimed slash- 

 ing stroke, one memorable harvest-day; for, 

 taking a bundle of wheat in my grasp, I eagerly 

 drew the blade too near under my finger, and 

 paid a penalty in pain, and the subsequent 

 inability to use it. 



A sickle is made nearly in the form of a 

 half-oval, and has a toothed edge, like a fine 

 saw. To perform properly with this, the reap- 

 er must stoop low, take a large bundle in his 

 left hand, and cut accurately and vigorously 

 with his right. A party of reapers thus em- 

 ployed, proceed in the same regular way as 

 mowers. They leave the wheat in small bun- 

 dles at first on the ground, and afterwards tie 

 it up in sheaves. The bands they make for 

 this purpose are formed by twisting two small 



