Chap. 10.1 THE BULB EEIOPHOEUS. 141 



to dry, after which it is again made up into sheaves, and placed 

 under cover. It is then put to soak in sea-M'ater, this being the 

 best of all for the purpose, though fresh water will do in case 

 sea- water cannot be procured : this done, it is again dried in 

 the sun, and then moistened afresh. If it is wanted for im- 

 mediate use, it is put in a tub and steeped in warm water, after 

 which it is placed in an upright position to dry : this being 

 universally admitted to be the most expeditious method of pre- 

 paring it. To make it ready for use, it requires to be beaten 

 out. Articles made of it are proof, more particularly, against 

 the action of fresh or sea-water ; but on dry land, ropes of hemp 

 are generally preferred. Indeed, we find that spartum receives 

 nutriment even from being under water, by way of compen- 

 sation, as it were, for the thirst it has had to endure upon its 

 native soil. 



By nature it is peculiarly well adapted for repairing, and 

 however old the material may be, it unites very well with new. 

 The person, indeed, who is desirous duly to appreciate this 

 marvellous plant, has only to consider the numerous use-s to 

 which, in all parts of the world, it is applied : from it are 

 made, the rigging of ships, various appliances of mechanism 

 employed in building, and numerous other articles which supply 

 the wants of daily life. To suffice for all these requirements, 

 we find it growing solely on a tract of ground which lies upon 

 the sea-line of the province of jS'ew Carthage, somewhat less 

 than thirty miles in breadth by one hundred in length. The 

 expense precludes its being transported to any very considera- 

 ble distance. 



CHAP. 9. AT WHAT PERIOD SPARTUil ^AS FIEST EMPLOYED. 



The Greeks used formerly to employ the rush for making 

 ropes ; so, at least, we are led to believe, from the name^^ given 

 by them to that plant ; and at a later period they made them, 

 it is very clear, from the leaves of the pahn, and the inner 

 bark of the linden-tree. It seems to me very probable, too, 

 that it was from' them that the Carthaginians borrowed the 

 'first hint for applying spartum to a similar purpose. 



CHAP. 10. THE BULB ERIOrHOBITS. 



Theophrastus'^ informs us, that there is a kind of bulb, which 



*^ The same word, trxolvog, signifying both a " rush" and a " rope." 

 '" Hist. Plant. 13. vii. c. 13. Atheureus, B. ii., nntntions it also. 



