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it in thick luxuriance, obstruct the sun's rays and hinder it from 

 ripening kindly. Indian corn, beans, melons, &c. are all treated 

 in a similar way. The wheat, when ripe, is cut down with sickles 

 and gathered into heads or sheaves. A circular pen of from 40 to 

 60 yards in diameter is then formed with rails and hides ; in the 

 centre of this enclosure is placed a quantity of about 100 or 200 

 quarters of wheat in the straw. The pile is so formed as to have the 

 ears on the outside as much as possible. A small quantity is pulled 

 down towards the circumference of the circle, and a herd of about 

 twenty mares are driven in, which, being untamed, are easily 

 frightened and made to gallop round. At this pace they are kept 

 by means of whips for four or five hours, until the corn is trod out 

 of the ears, and the straw is completely reduced. Another parcel of 

 the sheaves is then pulled down, and a fresh herd of mares is let in, 

 and this operation is repeated until the whole heap is reduced, and 

 the straw is broken as small as chaff. In this state it is left until a 

 brisk wind happens to rise ; and then the winnowing is performed by 

 emptying baskets of the mixed grain and chaff at an elevation of 

 eight feet from the ground. While the chaff is borne away by the 

 current of air, the grain falls, and at the close of the operation, is 

 sewed up in green hides. In this state it is sent to the sea-ports, 

 where a considerable quantity of biscuit is prepared for shipping. 

 It is obvious, that by the above mode of separating the grain, a con- 

 siderable quantity must be lost by abrasion, and by mixture with a 

 large portion of earth which cannot be blown away by the wind. 



The climate and soil are equally favourable for the growth of 

 grapes, apples, peaches, and in short every species of fruit belonging 

 to the temperate zone, but these are known here only as rarities! 

 That inestimable root, the potatoe, would thrive abundantly, if once 

 introduced ; but, though much has been said in recommendation of 

 it> the people remain totally averse to this or any other proposal 

 for improving their means of subsistence, and seem to wish for 

 nothing beyond the bare necessaries of hfe. Indeed the state of 



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