586 
AGRICULTURE HOE. — CORN. — BREAD. 
adhere to ancient customs ; but this character has nothing of pecu- 
liarity in it, as it belongs to that great mass of mankind who are too 
indolent in mind to think for themselves ; and for whom custom is, 
perhaps, the safest guide ; though one which never leads to improve- 
ment or discovery. From this cause, Bachapin agriculture is ex- 
tremely simple, and artless; it is, as before remarked, performed 
entirely by women. To prepare the ground for sowing, they peck it 
up to the depth of about four inches, with a kind of hoe, or mattock, 
which differs in nothing from the peeklo or adze * excepting in its 
being two or three times larger. 
The corn is put into the earth in the months of August or 
September, according to the earlier or later falling of the rains ; and 
is said to be reaped in April or about that time. It is of that kind 
which is known by the names of Indian Millet, and Guinea-Gorn ; 
and is called in the Cape Colony, by that of Cqffre Corn -f, being of 
the same species as this last, yet differing somewhat from the others, 
although the difference is scarcely to be distinguished but by the 
botanist. The growth of the plant resembles that which is well 
known in English gardens under the name of Maize or Indian Corn ; 
and, vulgarly speaking, it may be said to differ from it only by pro- 
ducing a large upright bunch of small round grain, instead of a solid 
cylindrical ear. The Bichuanas call it mdbhele (mabbaly) ij: and are 
fond of chewing the stalk, or rather, cane, the juice of which they 
find agreeably sweet and refreshing. 
This grain is most commonly eaten simply boiled ; but they 
sometimes pound it (having nothing that can be denominated a mill), 
and after boiling it with milk to a solid substance, leave it till it 
become very sour ; in which state they call it buJcobi, a name which 
my interpreter explained by the Dutch word brood (bread), a word 
which the Colonial Hottentots apply to any vegetable preparation of 
a similar consistence, however different in quality. 
* Described in the first volume at page iOG. f Holcus {Sorghum) Caffrorum. 
X Sometimes pronounced mabbeli. 
