Hypovidew.) THE HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS 375 
but which is referred to Fourcroya by Haworth. Kantala being a Sanscrit name, Dr. R. 
thinks that this may be a native of, as it is very common in India; but as there are 
modern Sanscrit names (v. p. 60), this has most probably been introduced as indicated 
by one of its names, Bilatee ananas, foreign pine-apple. 
The species of Agave are not alone ornamental as plants and useful as hedges, but 
are important for their products. The roots, as well as leaves, contain ligneous fibre 
(pite thread), useful for various purposes: these are separated by bruising and steeping 
in water, and afterwards beating; practises which the natives of India have adopted, 
either from instruction or original observation. The Mexicans also made their paper of 
the fibres of Agave leaves laid in layers. The expressed juice of the leaves evaporated, 
is stated by Long in his Hist. of Jamaica, to be also useful as a substitute for soap. 
But the most important product of Agave, and especially of A. Americana, the species 
now most common in the south of Europe, is the sap, which exudes upon the cutting- 
out of the inner leaves, just before the flower scape is ready to burst forth. Of this a 
very full account is given by the illustrious Humboldt, in his Political History of New 
Spain, book iv. c.9. The species is A. Americana, called metd by the Mexicans, and 
Maguay de Cociuza in Caraccas. Pittes and maguey metl are varieties of A. Americana, 
which (Syn. Plant. Aquinoct. i. p. 300) is stated to be common every where in Aqui- 
noctial America, from the plains even to elevations of between 9,000 and 10,000 feet. 
A. Mevicana is also, by some authors, called maguet, metl, and also. manguai; and 
A. vivipara is Theo-metl or manguei divinum. In Cumana and Caraccas, A. cubensis is 
called maguey de Cocay. Humboldt informs us, that the first (A. Mewvicana,) is exten- 
sively cultivated in the interior table-land of Mexico, and, indeed, extends as far 
as the Aztec language. The juice of the Agave is of a very agreeable sour taste. It 
easily ferments on account of the mucilage and sugar it contains, when it is called 
pulque by the Spaniards. The vinous beverage, which resembles cyder, has an odour 
of putrid meat, extremely disagreeable ; but the Europeans, who have been able to get 
over the aversion, which this fetid odour inspires, prefer the pulgue to every other liquor. 
A very intoxicating brandy is formed from the pulque, which is called mevical or 
aguardiente de maguey.. The Government. drew from the Agave juice a net revenue 
of £166,497 in three cities. The cultivation of these plants appears worthy of trial in 
many parts of India, where the Agaves thrive so well. 
172. HYPOXIDEZ. 
The Hyporidee form a small order, which is sometimes united with Amaryllidee. 
The genera are only two in number. Curculigo, found at the Cape of Good Hope, 
New Holland, and from Java and the other Indian islands, extends along the Malayan 
Peninsula to Silhet, Nepal, and as far north as the Kheree Pass, where the same species 
C.recurvata and gracilis are found, as in every other part of India. C. orchioides, 
from the mountains of the Peninsula, extends also along the Himalayas, being 
found on Chirraponjee, in Kemaon, and by myself near Gundooree, on the shoulders of 
the 
