MILLET.— MILIUM. 



Natural order, Gramina. A genus of the 

 Triandria Digynia class. 



It is supposed to have derived the name 

 of Milium from mille, a thousand, because of 

 its numerous seeds. 



" To every land great Nature hath assign'd 

 A certain lot, which laws eternal bind." 



Virgil, Georg. book i. 



The Ethiopians inhabiting that part of 

 Africa now called Abyssinia, knew no other 

 bread or gruel than that which was made 

 from millet or barley ; yet they were com- 

 plimented by Homer, who styled them the 

 favourite of the gods, and the justest of men ; 

 and it is a singular fact, that their country 

 has never been invaded by a foreign enemy. 



Millet is alss a native grain of Tartary, 

 and, when mixed with mares milk or horses 

 blood, (which was obtained by opening a vein 

 in the leg of this useful animal,) it formed the 



