Note 149 — Chapter XII

Zumeita (Breber), Zimita (Shellah), Azamotan, mentioned in Glass. Hist. of the Canaries, and described as “barley-meal fried in oil,” is the preparation used in crossing the Zahara. It is toasted barley-meal mixed with water in the corner of the haïk, exactly as the Highland drovers used to mix it in the corner of their plaid. It is also mixed with butter or with honey, and in this form it constitutes the early meal. “Meat,” and the French met, which signifies every kind of food, are going a begging for an etymology. From Zimita come ζυμίται (Poll. lib. vi. 32), ζυμὸς, ζυμὴ, ψῶμι (leaven broth and bread), and Zimid, the Turkish bread baked with butter, acemiti, Spanish.