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The structure of the machine is as follows. On a massive wooden basis are placed (side by side) two upright circular shafts (wéng).
SUGAR-CANE MILL (WÉNG).
These are held in position by two horizontal bars (blida) fixed at a certain elevation. The extremities of these bars are supported on upright pillars (tamèh blida). Above the bars both shafts are provided with teeth which bite on one another so as to impart the rotatory motion of the one to the other. One of the shafts (the wéng agam) or "male" wéng is longer than the other (wéng inòng), the "female", so as to allow of the curved beam (wòë-wòë) being attached to the former. This beam, which bends downwards, is pulled round and round by a buffalo, and must of course hang clear of the other shaft as the latter would otherwise impede its movement.
At the point where the canes are introduced between the two shafts so as to squeeze out the juice, are two parallel strips of wood placed horizontally round the shafts. These are called the comb (suri), and serve to keep the canes, which are pushed in between them, straight
