FOOD. 13 



devour it ravenously. There are in South Africa 



and America a number of varieties of maize, but in 



India I only know of two sorts, in one of which the 



seeds are white and the other yellow, or a deep red 



colour. I don't think that there is much difference 



in them as far as horse food goes, but each individual 



grain should be plump, and fill out the husk well; 



they should be free from weevils, worms, or the 



marks of attacks from rats and mice. The husk 



should be well filled out, and have a shining, 



pearl-like^ glistening appearance, and when let 



fall on a stone or other hard substance give off a 



metallic sound. When broken open, the grain inside 



should be of a pure white colour, and of a pleasant, 



mealy smell, like fresh flour. If it is discoloured, 



it denotes that it has been wet and fermented. 



Maize can be crushed by most grain-crushing 



machines, also in the native mill (chuckie) if the 



stones are properly set ; but both in South Africa and 



India the natives pound it in a large wooden mortar 



made out of the trunk of a tree. 



Wheat (ghehuri). 



Although it is not to be recommended as a food, 

 still I have seen wheat used when no other grain 

 could be obtained, and it was a choice of it or 



