SURVEY OF THE GANGES, 47i 



vegetation of the mountain proportionaliy lessened. On one sid.e, scarcely 

 a vestige of verdure or vegetation was to be seen, excepting here and 

 there a solitary fir; while, on the other, the rich flourishing, crops exhi^ 

 bited a pleasing contrast, and seemed to exult in the advantage of their 

 situation. The sound of the rustic pipe first called our attention to the 

 labors of the field, where we observed people of both- sexes, engaged 

 in their different agricultural pursuits. The women take an- equal, share 

 in the toil, and while the men direct the oxen with the plough, the 

 women follow with the grain, and break the clods of earth. Other fa^ 

 milies were employed in reaping: barley, for which purpose they were 

 provided with a small sickle, with which they cut the grain about half 

 -way down thQ stem, and tie it up in bundles. The wheat and barley 

 were sow^ed. alternately in longitudinal rows of six or eight yards in 

 breadth, and occupied the higher ground, while the lower was appro-r 

 priated for the reception of rice, iVfa5zi;r,* Manduah,f Sama,X &c. The 

 fields under preparation for tillage were covered with rich manure of 

 dung and ashes, by which the farmers are enabled to obtain an annual 

 produce; but in other places, the soil is often' so unfriendly, that, after 

 one culture, the ground is left fallow for two or three seasons, when the 

 people collect all the grass and underwood in the vicinity, and by setting 

 fire to it, prepare the land for the receptionof another crap. We have 

 httherto had feW opportunities of gaining any insight into their art of 

 'husbandr)'', for most of the villages were deserted on our arrival ; but 

 to-day we perceived a great difference in the manners of the people. 

 They appeared to be much' more civilized, and so- far from exhibiting 

 any signs of apprehension, they came running towards the road, to see 



* Ervum Lem\ \ C^nosurus Coracanus. % Pankimfrumentaccuvu lloxB. 



