CHAP. XI. PLOUGHING. 41 



the river of itself overflows the land, and the water 

 retires again, they sow their fields, driving the pigs 

 over them to tread in the seed; and this being done, 

 every one patiently awaits the harvest." 



On other occasions they used the plough, but 

 were contented, as Diodorus* and Columella t 

 observe, with '* tracing slight furrows with light 

 ploughs on the surface of the land ;" and others 

 followed the plough with wooden hoes t to break 

 the clods of the rich and tenacious soil. 



The modern Egyptians sometimes substitute for 

 the hoe a machine §, called khonfud, ** hedgehog," 

 which consists of a cylinder studded with projecting 

 iron pins, to break the clods after tlie land has been 

 ploughed ; but this is only used when great care is 

 required in the tillage of the land : and they fre- 

 quently dispense with the hoe; contenting them- 

 selves, also, with the same slight furrows as their 

 predecessors, which do not exceed the depth of a 

 few inches, measuring from the lowest part to the 

 summit of the ridge. This mode of ploughing was 

 called by the Romans scarijicatio. 



The ancient plough was entirely of wood, and 

 of very simple form, like that still used in Egypt. 

 It consisted of a share, two handles, and the pole 

 or beam ; which last was inserted into the lower 



* Diodor. i. 36. 



•f- Columella dc Re Rust. ii. 25. 



j Of this instrument, dedicated to the God of Gardens, I have 

 given a remarkable instance in my Materia Hierog., Plate C, and in 

 PI. 6. of the Pantheon, in this volume. J'idc, also, woodcuts. No. 422. 

 and 424. 



§ Vide the Vignette K. at the beginning of this Chapter. 



