266 Agricultural and Land produce of Shoa. [No. 148. 



larity preserved, the feeble scratching is carried on in every direction 

 wherever the animals can find the requisite room to turn. 



40. The pick-axe, called " domah," is fashioned from the tough 

 wood of the " Lobinsa," having a crooked head inclining at an angle 

 of 45° towards the shaft, which is straight, and from two to three feet 

 in length ; the head of the crook is armed with a heavy piece of shar- 

 pened iron, which can be fixed either perpendicularly or horizontally, 

 and transformed at pleasure into a hatchet or a hoe. 



41. The sickle, called " maachet" is short, slightly curved, with 

 the edge indented, or cut into teeth ; it is employed in reaping every 

 description of crop, cutting grass and hay, and even at times used for 

 lopping away branches and bushes. 



42. The seed is covered in by one of the light scratchy performances 

 of the plough, which for this purpose is driven rapidly over the field, 

 and during the prevalence of the monsoon, the farmer is employed 

 in ploughing trenches through the wheat fields, to carry off the super- 

 abundant moisture. The women and children are fully occupied in hoe- 

 ing the crops, and keeping them clear of weeds; and whilst the grain is 

 ripening on the ground, a basket-work is erected upon a high tripod 

 in every field, and the ingenious youth of the district are posted 

 on these stages with slings and whips to frighten away the birds dur- 

 ing the day-time. When the fields in the vallies are situated near the 

 haunts of elephants, the largest trees are selected, and rude ladders 

 bound along the trunks leading to a place of refuge amongst the bran- 

 ches for the labourer, during the inroads made on the crops by 

 the huge monarch of the forest, who in this country is not easily 

 turned by fires and shouting, and whose displeasure at being distur- 

 bed at his meals, is generally manifested by the sacrifice of the 

 intruders. 



43. On the crop arriving at maturity, a bundle of grain is cut, 

 and fastened up in an elaborate and handsome form. This is called 

 " animete," and is presented as a token of joy to the governor, or 

 to some near relation ; the reaping thus commences with every avail- 

 able hand on the farm, female as well as male, and the grain is 

 cut high up in the stalk, the half of which is left attached to the 

 root for the use of the cattle, and the remainder with the ear stored 



