One whole hut was given over to the manufacture of the coarse meal, and women exclusively were engaged in the work. Yucas, which were tubers like very large potatoes, were being brought from the plantation some distance away. The women carried the heavy burdens on their heads, balancing them without using their hands to steady them. Others took them, pared and grated them; for the latter process they had a board on which small, sharp stones had been glued. The juice was then extracted by filling long, tubular baskets with the mash and suspending them from the ceiling; a heavy stone was tied to the bottom of the filled baskets. The weight pulled the baskets downward, contracting them and thus expressing the juice from the pulp. This liquid was caught in wooden containers and allowed to ferment after which it was used as a beverage. After the greater part of the moisture had been removed the contents of the baskets were emptied into a vat; they were taken from this as needed and placed into shallow pans over low fires. The women stirred the steaming masses constantly with long-handled paddles until they had thoroughly dried, when the particles separated into a coarse meal. That was the finished product--called farinha. The next day they began loading the launch. David joined the line of mozos and carried his share of the bales and bags. Most of them were very heavy, so it was hard work and the perspiration ran in streams down his bare back. But he stuck to the task without complaint or comment. On his return from one of the trips to the launch David found Rice standing near the passing file of men, surveying them with an appraising eye. “Good morning,” he said, halting. “What?” The voice that replied was filled with sudden anger. “Whining already? Want to go home? I expected it!” “Why,” David started in surprise. “I only said good morning.” “Don’t good morning me. And don’t say anything else, either. You are not to talk to me unless I speak first--no peon is allowed to.” “Very well.” “The foreman is your boss; you are nobody--with a little n. When I have anything to say to you I’ll let you know pretty quick; and you keep your mouth shut. Now move on.” David moved on without further urging. He felt as if somebody had given him a sound thrashing, but after all, what could he expect from the beast? He had agreed to start at the bottom although he had not known how low that bottom might be but he expected no favors--wanted none. He would show them that he could stand on his own feet without their help and even in spite of anything they might do; time alone would tell the story.