CHAP. XI. CLOVER. 9/ 



clover, or leguminous herbs, which were sown as 

 soon as the water began to subside, generally 

 about the commencement of October ; and at the 

 same time that corn, or other produce, was raised 

 on the land just left by the water, another crop 

 was procured by artificial irrigation. This, of 

 course, depended on the choice of each indivi- 

 dual*, who consulted the advantages obtained from 

 certain kinds of produce, the time required for their 

 succession, or the benefit of the land : for though 

 no soil recovers more readily from the bad effects 

 arising from a repetition of similar crops, through 

 the equalising influence of the alluvial deposit, it 

 is at length found to impoverish the land ; and 

 the Egyptian peasant is careful not to neglect the 

 universal principle in husbandry, of varying the 

 produce on the same ground. 



Besides wheat, other crops are represented in 

 the paintings of the tombs ; one of which, a tall 

 grain, is introduced as a production both of Upper 

 and I^ower Egypt, t From the colour, the height 

 to which it grows, compared with the wheat, 

 and the appearance of a round yellow head it 

 bears on tiie top of its bright green stalk, it is 

 evidently intended to represent the doora, or 

 Holcus Sorghum. It was not reaped by a sickle, 

 like the wheat and barley, but men, and some- 

 times women, were employed to pluck it upt; 

 which being done, they struck off the earth that 

 adhered to the roots with their hands, and having 



* Vide Vol. II. p. .'37. 



■|- At Thebes, Eilethyas, Beni Hassan, and Saccara. 

 X Vide woodcuts, Nos. 435. and 4.36. 

 VOL. I. — Seroxn Serifs. H 



