46 SUGAR 



males, but the various gangs include some women and 

 a few children, who perform numerous Hght duties, 

 keep the buildings clean, and take part in the manu- 

 facture of by-products of sugar-cane . 



The two chief by-products manufactured at a sugar- 

 mill are molascuit and rum. 



Molascuit, used for cattle-food, is a mixture of 

 molasses and sifted megass ; that is to say, a com- 

 pound of the residue of masse-cuite and the fine " dust " 

 of the residue of crushed cane. 



The process of rum-making begins with a mixture 

 locally known as "wash," in which molasses and 

 water are the main ingredients. The wash is run 

 into big vats, and allowed to ferment. After fer- 

 mentation, it is passed through stills, and through the 

 successive mediums of evaporation and condensation 

 it becomes rum. 



CHAPTER XII 



MEERYMAKING ON A DEMERARA SUGAR ESTATE 



Nowhere can you witness more quaintly attractive 

 entertainments than those which take place in Demerara 

 sugar-land, on high days, holidays, and sundry other 

 special occasions. 



Every Saturday brings a time of rejoicing ; for it is 

 the weekly festival of Pay-Day, and all the labourers 

 have a half -holiday to celebrate the occasion. At 

 noon, they go home, doff their working-clothes, and 

 don their Sunday-best raiment. Think of them all 

 men, women and children, as dressing themselves up 



