78 TRINIDAD. 



plantings for quickset hedges, and as rods for temporary fences ; 

 in the latter by being attached to the posts with some pliant lianes 

 or withes : baskets and fish-nets are commonly made from the 

 stem of this plant, in which branch of industry the Chinese im- 

 migrants excel. Its foliage supplies a rich fodder. A vine-like 

 palm (Desmoncus) is employed for securing the rods in field- 

 fencing, and might also serve in the manufacture of baskets : 

 the Carib basket — water-tight when well woven — is made of a 

 species of Calathea-Ahoman or Aruma. The fact is, it is a 

 sort of double basket, the leaves of the Cachibou (Calathea) 

 being inserted between two coatings of wicker-work. With the 

 twiny roots of the Seguine (Philodendrum) are made neat hand- 

 baskets ; and the Mamure, split into small strips, serves the pur- 

 pose of binding the leaves of the Carat and Timite-thatch to the 

 Roseau laths. 



From the two plants of the genera Bauhinia and Brownea, 

 viz., Pata de Vaca [Bauhinia megalandra, Griesb.) and Palo- 

 Rosa, superior hoops have been obtained ; and I have no doubt 

 some of our Bignonias, and the indigenous or prickly Bamboo 

 (Bambusa) might answer a similar purpose. 



The Bois Immortel (Erythrina) is invaluable as affording 

 shade and protection to the Cacao, on which account it has been 

 called by the Spaniards " Madre del Cacao/' " Mother of the 

 Cacao/'' There are two species of the Erythrina, the coccinea, 

 or Anauco ; and the umbrosa, or Bucare. The former is a very 

 soft, light wood, rather brittle, and perfectly useless as timber or 

 fuel ; the latter is not exactly so soft or brittle : they are propa- 

 gated by slips or cuttings or from seedlings. 



The family of Graminacese furnishes excellent fodder, and 

 various species from the genera Paspalum (Herbe-lancette), so 

 called from the form of its leaves, which resemble the blade of a 

 lancet. Panicum (Herbe-fine), Andropogon (Couch-grass), 

 Cynodon (Bahama-grass), Oplismenus, Pennisetum, &c, form, in 

 a great measure, the basis of our pasture-grounds. The Guinea- 

 grass, Bamboo, and Guinea-corn, are excellent fodder for all sorts 

 of cattle; cows thrive well on the Cow-grass (Alternant Aera) . 

 and the Liane-douce (Convolvulus) — the latter eagerly sought bj 

 swine; to which may be added the Herbe-grasse (Commelync 

 vulgaris), and several plants of the Amarantaceaa family. 



From the fibres of the Mahoe (Sterculia) , Carata (Bromelic 



