__ by the tide, as in the inland country, generally in ground: 
more or less swampy. 
l __ “ Extensively diffused as this valuable plant is over the 
surface of the island, it is along its western coast, to the 
southward of the parallel of 35°, and in Cook’s Streight, 
that the greatest quantities have been found, where it is 
| said to grow in fields of inexhaustible extent. The indige- 
_ Rous growth of the Paormium is not limited simply to New 
Zealand ; for it was long ago discovered in a wild state at 
| Norfolk Island, where it forms long tufts, along the cliffs, 
_ within the influence of the salt spray rising from the heavy 
surfs, which, ever and anon, lash the iron-bound shores of 
that small, but truly beautiful spot of the Pacific. 
“The preparation of the Flax for their own use, or for 
exchange with Europeans, is effected by the native women, 
+ and their method of separating the silky fibre, from the long 
_ Flag-like leaf of the plant, of which it forms the under sur- 
face, appears simple enough. Holding the apex of a re- 
cently cut leaf between their toes, they make a transverse 
Section through the succulent matter at that end, witha shell, 
(which they still employ, though they possess every species 
of iron edge-tool,) and inserting the shell, (said to be of 
| the Genus Osrrea,) between that substance and the fibre, 
| Teadily.effect its separation, by drawing the shell through 
the whole length of the leaf. It is to be observed, that the 
_ Separation is always performed by those people, when the 
_ Yegetable is freshly cut : as the leaf contains a gum, which 
- ¢auses the fibre to adhere more strongly, when dry ; nor 
have the attempts of Europeans to extract the filaments 
ftom the leaf by maceration, been at all successful : the 
_ €xperiments that have been made at Sidney, showing a 
‘the large proportion of the succulent matter (for so t 
failure was accounted for) rendered it impossible to effect 
the separation by dessa 9% = water, without materv- 
ally injuring the strength of the fibre.’ a aoe 
oo % Spe peti this mode of separating the F - 
from the leaf by a shell, in the hands of those savage sti 
the European has not succeeded in his endeavours to pre- 
‘Pare the fibre for himself, either by that, or any other ae 
that have been tried ; nor has any instrument or —. Pe 
Machinery yet been invented to enable him si rip off, 
and prepare this valuable filament for the nc oe 
The Port Jackson traders must still be — — a 
ative women and their shells for the cargoes they obtaim = 
a. ¢¢ The Flax thus obtained from the natives by the 
chants of Sidney, undergoes no heckling, cleaning; « 
