PAPER-REED. 



CYPERACE^E. Cypcnis Papyrus. 



T has been supposed that Ethiopia was the native country 

 of the papyrus, which naturally from thence descended the 

 Nile into Egypt. It has been found in Italy and Greece: 

 but, as Pliny says nothing of it when referring to those 

 countries, it was probably introduced since the time in 

 which he lived. It also grew along the Upper Jordan, from 

 Paneas to the Lake of Tiberias, according to ancient writers. 

 Its appearance is graceful, but singular; for its stem, sometimes 

 rising to a height of twelve or even fourteen feet, is devoid of 

 leaves and terminated with a beautiful plume rising imme 

 diately out of a parted cup or calyx. Near the roots there are 

 sometimes delicate shoots, which, with the roots themselves, 

 were used as food by the ancient Egyptians. 



This reed is famous for the uses to which it has been 

 applied in the arts. So far back as the time of Homer it was 

 used for the manufacture of cordage, as appears from a pass 

 age in the Odyssey. Boats were constructed of the stem, and 

 sandals w T ere made for the priests from the parts near the 

 roots; the macerated fibres formed cords and ropes; and the 

 plume at the top was used to crown the statues of the god 

 desses in the temples. The name &quot;papyrus,&quot; which originated 

 the English word &quot;paper,&quot; suggests the most important use of 



&quot; 



127 



