230 MODE OF REAPING 



is a very toilsome occupation, which is always carefully 

 accomplished by the industry of the Dyak, as the rapid 

 growth of the weeds would soon spoil his crop, and 

 render unavailing all the labour his farm had pre- 

 viously cost him. 



About March or April, or from six to seven 

 months after the period of its sowing, the padi puts 

 on the beautiful appearance which informs the de- 

 lighted husbandman of the approach of the reward 

 of his labours. At this season the field of the Dyak 

 presents a more lovely picture to the eye than the 

 farms of Europe. The yellow padi is everywhere 

 relieved by the gaudy flowers of the bay am, a kind 

 of vegetable, which resembles the Amaranthus, or 

 prince's feather of our gardens, and its large tufts 

 of orange and crimson enhance the beauty of the 

 pleasing scene. As the heads of padi seldom all 

 ripen together, or so regularly as the ears of other 

 grain in England, no sickle is used in reaping, nor 

 are the stalks bound into bundles. Every person in 

 the family of the Dyak, armed with his or her basket 

 and knife, is employed in going regularly over the 

 field, and taking off all the ripe heads, with but a 

 few inches of the straw, the bulk of which is left- 

 standing on. the ground, where it decays, and nourishes 

 the earth which produced it. Each person, when the 

 basket is full, carries it to the dangau, where it is 

 rubbed from the ear, frequently by the hands ; but 

 this irksome method is, by those who have large farms, 

 avoided by a sieve which they erect outside the hut, 



