Chap. 66.] FLUTE EEEDS. 405 



of India are preferred ; in the opinion of some persons, how- 

 ever, these last are of a totally different nature, for by adding a 

 point to them, the natives are able to use them as lances even. 

 Indeed, we find that in India the reed grows to the thickness 

 of a tree, a fact which is proved by the specimens which are 

 everywhere to be seen in our temples. The Indians assure 

 us that in this plant, too, there is the distinction of male and 

 female ; the body of the male being more compact, and that 

 of the female of a larger size. In addition to this, if we can 

 credit the fact, a single compartment between the joints is 

 sufficiently large to answer the purposes of a boat. 27 These 

 reeds are found more particularly on the banks of the river 

 Acesines. 



In every variety of the reed a single root gives birth to 

 numerous stems, and if cut down, they will shoot again with 

 increased fecundity. The root, which is naturally tenacious 

 of life, is also jointed as well as the stem. The reeds of India 

 are the only ones in which the leaves are short ; but in all the 

 varieties these leaves take their rise at the joints, and surround 

 the stem with a fine tissue about half way upwards to the 

 next joint, and then leave the stem and droop downwards. 

 The reed, as well as the calamus, although rounded, has two 

 sides, which throw out leaves alternately from above the joints, 

 in such a way that when one springs from the right side, the 

 next issues from the joint above it on the left, and so in 

 turns. Branches, too, shoot occasionally from the stem, being 

 themselves reeds of diminutive growth. 



CHAP. 66. FLUTE EEEDS : THE HEED OF ORCH031ENES ; SEEDS 



ESED FOR FOWLING AND FISHING. 



The varieties of the reed are numerous. Some are more 

 compact than others, thicker at the joints, and "with a shorter 

 interval. between them ; while others, again, are less compact, 

 with longer intervals between the joints, and not so straight. 

 Another kind of reed is quite hollow ; it is known as the 

 syringia/' 28 and is particularly useful for making flutes, having 

 neither pith in it nor any fleshy substance. The reed of Or- 



27 See B. vii. c. 2. This is probably an exaggeration. He alludes to 

 the Bamboa arundinacea of Lamarck, the Arundo arbor of C. Bauhin. 



28 The Arundo donax of Linnasus. 



