224 TRAVELS INT UPPER 



known in Egypt. In order to separate the grain 

 from the straw, they prepare, with a mixture of 

 earth and doves dung, spacious areas, well com- 

 pacted and made perfectly clean. On these the 

 rice is deposited in deep layers. They next employ 

 a species of cart, formed of two pieces of wood 

 fastened together by two cross bars, nearly of the 

 form of those sledges which are used to drag heavy- 

 loads along the pavement of the streets of our 

 cities. Between the lengthwise sides of this sledge 

 are fixed transversely three rows of little wheels of 

 solid iron, and brought to an edge at the circum- 

 ference. On the fore part, a seat very high and 

 very broad is rudely constructed. On this a man 

 is placed, who guides two oxen which are yoked 

 to the machine, and the whole is moved slowly, and 

 in a circular direction, over all the parts of a pile of 

 rice, till no more grain remains attached to the 

 straw. Having undergone this operation, it is 

 spread out in the air to dry. The manner of turning 

 it over is very amusing. A great many men walk 

 alongside of each other, and each of them furrows, 

 with one foot, the layer of grain, so that in a few 

 moments the whole mass is stirred about, and what 

 was before undermost is again exposed to the air. 



The rice, when dried, is carried to the mill, 

 where it is stripped of its husk or envelope. This 

 mill consists of a single wheel turned round by oxen, 



and 



