ALOE. 11 



that this Aloe is very common at the Cape ; and, although 

 not a native, but imported from the botanic gardens of 

 Europe, blossoms finely every year*. 



A kind of soap is prepared from the leaves, and the leaves 

 themselves are used for scowering floors, pewter, &c.; 

 their epidermis is serviceable to literature as a material for 

 writing upon. The following extract from Wood's Zoo- 

 graphy will give some idea of the general utility of this ex- 

 traordinary plant : 



" The Mahometans respect the Aloe as a plant of a su- 

 perior nature. In Egypt it may be said to bear some share 

 in their religious ceremonies ; since whoever returns from 

 a pilgrimage to Mecca hangs it over his street-door as a 

 proof of his having performed that holy journey. The 

 superstitious Egyptians believe that this plant hinders evil 

 spirits and apparitions from entering the house ; and on 

 this account, whoever .walks the streets in Cairo, will find 

 it over the doors of both Christians and Jews." 



Maximilian, in his Travels in Brazil, mentions a species 

 of Agave which grew by the sea-side (Agave fcetida), of 

 which he says " Its smooth-edged stiff leaves, eight or ten 

 feet long, form strong hedges ; and from the middle rises a 

 thick stem thirty feet high, which bears at the top yellowish 

 green flowers, and gives the landscape an original appear- 

 ance. The pith of the stem^ called Pitta, serves the col- 

 lectors of insects instead of cork (." 



May not the French name Pitte be taken from this word 

 Pitta? 



Lavaysse, in his " Venezuela," says the inhabitants make 

 ropes from the Jgavejwtida : 



" The leaves of the different specimens of Aloe, as well 

 as the Agave, are highly serviceable to the natives of the 



* Thunberg's Travels, p. 283. t Page 82. 



