178 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



as we have already mentioned, on the third of Decem- 

 ber, they were repaired if necelTary (m). 



The method they obferved in fowing of maize, and 

 which they ftill pra&ife in fome places, is this. The 

 fower makes a fmall hole in the earth, with a flick or 

 drill probably, the point of which is hardened by fire ; 

 into this hole he drops one or two grains of maize from 

 a ba/ket which hangs from his fhoulder, and covers 

 them with a little earth by means of his foot \ he then 

 paffes forward to a certain diflance, which is greater or 

 lefs according to the quality of the foil, opens another 

 hole, and continues fo in a ftraight line unto the end of 

 the field ; from thence he returns, forming another line 

 parallel to the firft. The rows of plants by thefe means 

 are as ftraight as if a line was made ufe of, and at as equal 

 diflances from each other as if the fpaces between were 

 meafured. This method of fowing, which is now ufed 

 by a few of the Indians only, though more flow (n), is, 

 however of fome advantage, as they can more exactly 

 proportion the quantity of feed to the ilrength of the 

 foil ; befides, that there is almoft none of the feed loft 

 which is fown. In confequence of this, the crops of the 

 fields which are cultivated in that manner are ufually 

 more plentiful. When the maizq fprings up to a cer- 

 tain height, they cover the foot of the plant round with 

 earth, that it may be better nourilhed, and more able 

 to withftand fudden gufts of wind. 



In the labours of the field the men were affifted by 

 the women. It was the bufmefs of the men to dig and 

 hoe the ground, to fow, to heap the earth about the 



plants, 



(m) This is called a penguin fence in Jamaica, and the windward iflands. 

 in) This manner of fowing is not fo flow as might be imagined, as the 

 fountry people ufed to this method do it with wonderful quicknefs. 



