339 
Vegetables of Ceylo7L 
foot paths to the people employed in the culture of the rice, 
who would otherwise be obliged to wade knee-deep in mud and 
water. 
The flooding of the rice-fields attracts a terrible enemy in 
the alligator, who frequently contrives to steal in unperceived, 
and conceal himself among the embankments. The natives are 
on this account often very much alarmed, and search with 
great care before they venture among the mud and water. 
Besides this superior species of rice, there are several other 
inferior kinds, as well as other sorts of grain, which the natives 
frequently sow on account of their requiring less water. What 
is commonly called paddy is a very inferior grain. Corocan 
is a small seed, like our mustard, which they beat in a mor- 
tar, and make into cakes. Tanna is a very prolific grain, 
and hardly requires any cultivation. It requires first to be 
parched by the fire, and then beaten in a mortar, in order to 
be imhusked. When boiled, it swells even more than rice ; 
and though rather dry and insipid, it is accounted sufficiently 
wholesome. 
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