THRESHING BY HORSES AND MULES. 



197 



Ephraim is as an heifer that is taught, and loveth to 

 tread out the corn," (Hosea x. 11.) Thresh'ng by the 

 feet of animals was practised in ancient Egypt, and also 

 among the Greeks and Romans ; though the latter 

 people preferred horses, as better adapted to the work 

 than oxen. The Hebrew nation were for many ages 

 without horses, but, in the time of the prophet Isaiah, 

 these animals were employed for the purpose : " Bread- 

 corn is bruised ; because he will not ever be thi-eshing 

 it, nor break it with the wheel of his cart, nor bruise 

 it with his horsemen," (Isa. xxviii. 28.) 



THRESHING BV HORSES. 



This practice is still common in northern Africa, and 

 is thus described by a traveller in that country : 

 " These nations continue to tread out their corn after the 

 primitive custom of the East. Instead of beeves they 

 frequently make use of mules and horses, by tying in 

 like manner by the neck three or four of them together, 

 and whipping them afterwards round about the neddles, 

 as they call the threshing-floors, where the sheaves lie 

 open and expanded in the same manner as they are 

 placed and prepared by us for threshing. This, indeed, 

 is a much quicker way than ours, though less cleanly ; 



