94. 



THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS. 



CHAP. XI. 



heap, and then taking a sufficient quantity, spread 

 it upon the open area, and pass over it the noreg 

 drawn by two oxen. The difference in the modem 

 and ancient method being that in the former the 

 noreg is used, and the oxen go round the heap, 

 which is in the centre, and not at the circumfe- 

 rence, of the threshing floor. Some instances, 

 however, occur of the heap being in the centre, 

 as at the present day, as in the accompanying cut. 



No. 4*1. Thebes. 



The oxen driven round the heap ; contrary to the usual custom. 



The noreg is a machine consisting of a wooden 

 frame, with three cross bars or axles, on which 

 are fixed circular iron plates, for the purpose of 

 bruising the ears of corn and extracting the grain, 

 at the same time that the straw is broken up into 

 small pieces : the first and last axles having each 

 four plates, and the central one three : and at the 

 upper part is a seat on which the driver sits, his 

 weight tending to give additional effect to the ma- 

 chine.* 



* Vide Vol. II. p. 190. Vignette F. 



