544 



WOMAN GRINDING CORN. 



Chap. XXVI. 



the lower millstone, in the same way that a baker works his 

 dough, when pressing it and pushing from him. The weight 

 of the person is brought to bear on the moveable stone, and 

 while it is pressed and pushed forwards and backwards, one 



:i. 



Native Mill foi grinding Corn. 



hand supplies every now and then a little grain to be thus at 

 first bruised and then ground on the lower stone, which is 

 placed on the slope, so that the meal, when ground, falls on 

 to a skin or mat spread for the purpose. This is perhaps 

 the most primitive form of mill, and anterior to that in 

 oriental countries, where two women grind at one mill, and 

 may have been that used by Sarah of old when she entertained 

 the Angels. 



Another part of the work of women is in the preparation 

 of beer. The malted grain is sun-dried and pounded into 

 meal, then cooked or brewed. A merrymaking often implies 

 that all who come to make merry shall bring their hoes and 

 let off the excitement of the liquor by a substantial day's hoe- 

 ing. At other times, a couple shut themselves up in their huts, 

 on pretence of sickness, and drink the whole brewing them- 

 selves. But a more common mode is to invite all the friends 

 and relatives of the woman whose beer is to be drunk, 

 and they rejoice in the entertainment, and praise the good- 



