MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. 
197 
There is a law among them, that no com shall 
be cut down till after the first frost, and 
the formal permission of the King. This was 
lately violated by a woman cutting down and 
carrying home part of her corn before the King- 
had given permission ; but the law having 
been once broken, it was not considered as 
binding upon any other person for that year. 
Mateebe, in vindication of the custom, said, if 
all were permitted to reap the grain as it 
became ripe, they would cut down that which 
was first ripe, and, having their immediate wants 
supplied, they would neglect what remained in 
the fields till it had been destroyed by the birds ; 
adding, that where the corn remains together in 
the fields, the loss from the birds is sustained by 
all equally, and is, therefore, not so much felt 
by individuals. But should one half be cut 
down before the other, then a greater proportion 
of loss would fall on those whose fields were not 
so early ripe. When these circumstances are 
considered, the law will not appear so ridiculous 
or oppressive as at first sight it may seem to be. 
RAIN-MAKERS. 
Rain-makers, as the word expresses, are 
persons who pretend to possess power over the 
clouds, and to be able to bring rain upon a 
