n EQUATORIAL VEGETATION 259 



often formed entirely of bamboo. The harder and thicker 

 sorts, split and formed with tapering ends, make a very 

 strong and elastic bow, while a narrow strip of the outer skin 

 of the same is used for the string, and the slender reed-like 

 kinds make excellent arrows. One of the few agricultural 

 tools used by the Papuans a spud or hoe for planting or 

 weeding is made of a stout bamboo cut somewhat like the 

 spear. 



For various domestic purposes the uses of bamboo are 

 endless. Ladders are rapidly made from two bamboo poles 

 of the required length, by cutting small notches just above 

 each ring, forming holes to receive the rungs or steps formed 

 of a slenderer bamboo. For climbing lofty trees to get bees- 

 wax, a temporary ladder reaching to any height is ingeniously 

 formed of bamboo. One of the hardest and thickest sorts is 

 chosen, and from this a number of pegs about a foot long are 

 made. These are sharpened at one end and then driven into 

 the tree in a vertical line about three feet apart. A tall and 

 slender bamboo is then placed upright on the ground and 

 securely tied with rattan or other cords to the heads of these 

 pegs, which thus with the tree itself form a ladder. A man 

 mounts these steps and builds up the ladder as he goes, 

 driving in fresh pegs and splicing on fresh bamboos till he 

 reaches the lower branches of the tree, which is sometimes 

 eighty or a hundred feet from the ground. As the weight of 

 the climber is thrown on several of the pegs which are bound 

 together and supported by the upright bamboo, this ladder is 

 much safer than it looks at first sight, and it is made with 

 wonderful rapidity. When a path goes up a steep hill over 

 smooth ground, bamboo steps are often laid down to prevent 

 slipping while carrying heavy loads. These are made with 

 uniform lengths of stout bamboo in which opposite notches 

 are cut at each end just within a joint. These notches allow 

 strong bamboo pegs to be driven through into the ground, 

 thus keeping the steps securely in place. The masts and 

 yards of native vessels are almost always formed of bamboo, 

 as it combines lightness, strength, and elasticity in an 

 unequalled degree. Two or three large bamboos also form 

 the best outriggers to canoes on account of their great buoy- 

 ancy. They also serve to form rafts; and in the city of 



