BAKING BREAD. 253 



one week out of four, at whichever palace of 

 Ankobar or Angolahlah the King should be then 

 absent from. 



She was very soon down upon her knees before 

 a broad circular pan of earthenware placed upon 

 three stones, which was being heated for baking- 

 bread over a glaring fire of sticks. Taking a short 

 horn, in which was contained the well-powdered 

 dust of the oily seed of the cotton plant, she 

 scattered a small portion over the surface of the 

 nearly flat dish, which was about a foot and a-half 

 in diameter. She then rubbed this well over the 

 whole with a rag. The leavened batter had been 

 made ready in the morning by Miriam, so Wallata 

 Gabriel, my new housekeeper, had only to take a 

 little out in a basin, and from this pour it upon 

 the heated dish, quickly spreading it into a thin 

 layer, and then placing over all a hollow shield-like 

 cover, also of earthenware, the edges of which, 

 where it rested upon the pan, being luted with wet 

 rags that stood by contained in another spare basin 

 of water. 



Sticks, a bundle of which had been brought in 

 by Goodaloo, lay upon the floor of the house, and 

 with these a bright fire was kept flaring away for 

 about five minutes, when the cover being taken off 

 a nice-looking crumpet curled up its edge all 

 round, as if anxious to be taken off and eaten. 

 This was adroitly done by Wallata Gabriel placing 

 upon her lap as she knelt a neat straw mat, some- 



