THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 351 



The layers of the liber are found still deeper. They form 

 thin membranes, composed of elongated fibres, and often of 

 a beautiful white. These layers are superimposed like the 

 leaves of a book, and can sometimes be separated with facil- 

 ity, whence they have acquired the name of liber, and also 

 that of libretto, by which they were formerly designated. 



The long tenacious fibres of the liber sometimes simply 

 lie side by side, and thus yield valuable textile fabrics. At 

 other times, being closely interwoven, they are worked up 

 by the savages into various objects. By distending the bark 

 of a little switch, the size of a quill, they make a nightcap, 

 or a whip possessing all the flexibility of those we construct 

 with the finest cord. 



The liber of some plants is exactly like certain cloths ; 

 vestments which nature offers us ready-made. The inhab- 

 itants of New Zealand convert the liber of some of their 

 trees into strong drapery, and, having covered it with im- 

 pressed patterns, they put it to different purposes, either to 

 ornament their dwellings or to make their dresses of. In 

 Havana the negresses make their dresses of a softer and 

 finer kind. On the Lagetto, which is celebrated on this ac- 

 count, layers are found, the intertwined fibres of which are 

 as fine as our muslin, and even take its place in the toilet of 

 the ladies, so that the name of lace-wood has been given to 

 the tree which produces them. 



The inner layers of the bark are sometimes formed of 

 leaves sufficiently close and compact to constitute a kind of 

 paper. It was from these that the ancient Egyptians made 

 their celebrated papyrus rolls, on which they wrote, and 

 which, spared by the hand of time, reveal to our astonished 



