304 



THE POPULAR EDUCATOB. 



the ancient Egyptian scribe, long flat ribbons or strips were 

 taken from the stalks of the plants. These were coated with 

 a species of paste or cement yielded by the plant, crossed one 

 over the other, as shown in Pig. 2. The edges were then 

 brought close to each other, in such a way that a perfect sheet 

 was formed. The surface of this, when dry, was polished with 

 a smooth sea-shell. About twenty of these sheets, when joined 

 at their ends, constituted the scapus or roll of the scribe. 

 Pig. 3 represents the palette or writing-case of the Egyptians, 

 together with the little round sticks used in painting hiero- 

 glyphics. A kind of pen made from reed, and a straight round 

 rod of scraped cane, appear to have been much used in both 

 writing and painting on papyrus. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 represent 

 a set of these instruments, which are to be seen at the British 



Another species, the " cana grass" (Erisphorum vaginatum), is 

 found growing amongst the heather on much drier ground ; this 

 kind bears but one tuft on a stem, whilst tho marsh cotton has 

 several. 



The marshes and fens of both England and thr> north of 

 Europe produce several species of round rushes (Fig. 9), of which 

 Scripus lacustris is an example. The larger kinds are used 

 extensively for making matting, chair-bottoms, placing in the 

 joints of cooper's work, and polishing. The smaller kinds were 

 in old times used to strew on the floors of apartments and 

 places of entertainment. Tho wicks cf rushlight candles, as 

 they are called, are made from the common round rushes partly 

 stripped of their covering 



The beautiful fibre known as New Zealand flax ia procured 



Museum. It is somewhat curious that this plant, although so 

 closely associated with Egypt and its traditions, should be so 

 rare in that country. It is, however, found near Jaffa, and in 

 many of the rivers of Abyssinia. Boats, shoes, cordage, head- 

 dresses, and a variety of other useful matters, are made from 

 the papyrus rush. The largest and handsomest rush found 

 growing in this country is the so-called bulrush (Typha latifolia), 

 represented in Fig. 7. This performs its part in the economy 

 of Nature by absorbing the noxious vapours given off by fens 

 and low-lying marshes ; it also aids by its progressive growth, 

 death, and decay, in forming new land where stagnant water 

 would, without vegetable growth, remain. In China the roots 

 of a kind of bulrush, Siripus tuberosus, are extensively used 

 as food ; these tubers are called water-chestnuts, are eaten 

 either raw or boiled, and are considered beneficial in many 

 complaints. 



The cotton rush (Erisphorum angustifolium) is one of the most 

 beautiful and attractive plants found on our marshes and moor- 

 lands (Fig. 8). It usually grows in very moist ground, throw- 

 ing aloft its tuft of white snow-like cotton. This has occa- 

 sionally been made use of as a stuffing for pillows and cushions. 



from a plant closely resembling our common marsh flag, and 

 known to botanists as the Phormium tenax. Each flat, sword- 

 like leaf is filled with an immense number of fine, tough, silk-like 

 filaments ; these, when separated by soaking and scraping from 

 the juices of the plant, can be worked up into excellent thread 

 used in making native cloth, twine, and cordage. The dried 

 leaves are, without preparation of any kind, used for fastening 

 together the poles employed in the construction of the "pahs," 

 or native fortifications ; lashings and fastenings of various 

 kinds are also made from the same excellent native production. 

 Some difficulty has hitherto been experienced in freeing the 

 fibre from its resinous qualities; that has, however, been at 

 length achieved, and it has been discovered that a cement ad- 

 mirably adapted for letters and parcels can be manufactured 

 from the refuse. This curious production possesses the valuable 

 property of remaining unacted on by moisture after having 

 been once securely stuck to the surface of the paper it is 

 used to unite. 



There are yet remaining for notice several important and 

 valuable members of the rush family, but a consideration of 

 them must be reserved for our next paper. 



