When, animated by the most praiseworthy zeal and courage, Du Bellay, Bishop of Mans, came, in 1546, to represent to Francis I. the frightful misery of the provinces, and that of his diocese in particular, he assured the king that in many localities the people had nothing to eat but bread made of acorns. But mankind, who soon get tired of every thing, even of acorns and beech-nuts, began to dislike this wholesome and abundant food, when Ceres, the ancient Queen of Sicily, came just _à propos_ to give a few lessons in the art of sowing the earth.[III-7] Corn once brought into fashion acquired a surprising repute, and the ancient food was given up to the animal which it fattens; and if this last were eaten, it was no doubt in gratitude for the fruit mankind had formerly so much loved. The good Ceres did not stop there; it was very well to have corn, but to know how to grind it was also requisite; and the human race was then so lamentably backward, that one might have gone round the world without meeting a miller, or even the shadow of the meanest little mill. The Queen of Sicily then invented grinding-stones,[III-8] but, as the most useful discoveries require time to be known and improved upon, the way of grinding corn with stones did not become uniform everywhere. The inhabitants of Etruria (now called Tuscany) pounded the grain in [Illustration: _Pl. 4._ ALCINOUS’S HAND MILL.] mortars.[III-9] The early Romans adopted the same means, and gave the name of _Pistores_, grinders, to those persons who followed this occupation.[III-10] Pliny relates that one of the ancient families of Rome took the surname of _Piso_, having descended, as they believed, from the inventor of the art of bruising wheat with pestles.[III-11] Down to the latest days of the Roman republic the corn was bruised after being roasted. The pestle used for this purpose was somewhat pointed, and suspended by the aid of a ring to the extremity of a flexible lever, supported by an axle.[III-12] From the time of Moses the Hebrews used grinding-stones: several passages of the Holy Scripture clearly indicate this. Among others: “No man shall take the nether or the upper millstone to pledge; for he taketh a man’s life to pledge.”[III-13] Another text shows that the Egyptians used grinding-stones with handles, at about the same period.[III-14] The Israelites, when in the Desert, employed the same means to pound manna,[III-15] and after their settlement in the Promised Land, these utensils served to grind corn.