160 A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH j 
CHAPTER into two arms. In the fork an excavation is made for the mortar, 
HI* round which the beam turns horizontally. The surface of this exca- 
June ii. vation is secured by a semicircle of strong wood. The end towards 
the forks is quite open, for changing the beam without trouble. 
On the undivided end of the beam sits the bullock-driver (k), whose 
cattle are yoked by a rope (1), which comes from the end of the 
beam ; and they are prevented from dragging out of the circle by 
another rope (m), which passes from the yoke to the forked end of 
the beam. On the arms a basket (n) is placed to hold the cuttings 
of cane ; and between this and the mortar sits the man (o) who 
feeds the mill. Just as the pestle comes round, he places the pieces 
of cane sloping down the cavity of the mortar ; and, after the pestle 
has passed, he removes those which have been squeezed. 
The lever (pp) is a piece of timber nearly of the same length 
with the beam. Its thicker and lower end is connected with the 
undivided end of the beam by the regulator. Some way above its 
junction with the regulator, a “piece of Siijalu , which is a very hard 
wood, is dovetailed into the lower side of the lever ; and in this 
piece (q) is made a smooth conical hollow, which rests on the head 
of the pestle. The upper end of the lever is fastened to the two 
arms of the beam by two ropes (r r). 
The pestle (s) is a strong cylindrical piece of timber, about four 
feet in length. At each end it is cut to a point, so as at the upper 
end to form a cone, and at the lower a pyramid of from twelve to 
fifteen sides, surmounted by a short cylinder. The cavity in the 
lever being towards one end, makes the position ol the pestle always 
oblique ; so that as it passes round it rubs strongly against the sides 
of the mortar. Its cylindrical point rubs on the top of the hemi- 
spherical projection (d) that is in the bottom of the cylindrical cavity 
of the mortar. 
The regulator (t) is a strong square piece of timber, which passes 
through the undivided end of the beam, and is secured below by 
part of its circumference being left for checks. It is perforated by 
