1844.^) Agricultural and Land produce of Shoa. 267 



in piles on the field, for the purpose of being thoroughly dried 

 and hardened in the sun. 



44. The threshing out of the wheat, barley and jewarree, is per- 

 formed in the field by the tramp of muzzled oxen, and the other pro- 

 duce is also cleaned in the open air by means of long crooked sticks 

 wielded by the arms of the sturdy peasants, in as short a time as pos- 

 sible; bread and beer being prepared in great quantities. The farmer 

 hires his immediate neighbours according to his means ; hundreds 

 assemble on the spot, the process commences with an uproarious song 

 of exultation, and a most animated scene of noise, labour and confusion 

 ensues, until the grain is entirely separated from the straw. It is 

 strange, that the Jews on their emigration did not introduce into 

 Abyssinia, among their other improvements, the rollers and wheels of 

 wood, and the more perfect system in use at the time in their own 

 country, to facilitate the operations of threshing; but here, as in the 

 earliest days of patriarchal simplicity, the same pristine fashion is 

 preserved. 



" And round and round, with never- wearied pain, 

 The trampling steer breaks out the unnumbered grain." 



45. After the grain is trodden out, it is winnowed, by throwing it 

 up against the breeze with a wooden ladle, the operation being con- 

 tinued until the pure wheat is entirely separated from the chaff. It 

 is then gathered into a heap, and carried in skins to the dwelling of 

 the owners, to be stored up within the walls of the domicile in wicker 

 baskets and large earthen jars; for a detached barn is nowhere to be 

 seen in Abyssinia belonging to a private individual. The treading floor 

 is usually an open area, well levelled and consolidated with white 

 earth and cow-dung; but notwithstanding this operation, some particles 

 of the earth are often mixed with the grain, which makes the bread 

 gritty and disagreeable. 



46. After the wheat is well cleared, it is exposed to the sun on a 

 white skin, for the purpose of completely hardening the pickles, and 

 pounded in a deep narrow wooden mortar, to remove the husk, this 

 operation being performed by two women, who alternately ply their 

 long wooden pestles to the notes of a most monotonous song. The pro- 

 cess of grinding the grain is also allotted to the females, as well as 

 that of preparing the bread. 



