126 



defined, the solid rush of Chili deserves to be. 

 noticed : of this there arc many kinds, compre- 

 hended under the general name of culiu. All 

 these rushes resemble the bamboo ; they have a 

 smooth, hard, yellowish bark ; the inside is ge- 

 nerally filled with a fiIac<^ous substance, a little 

 harder than cork; the leaves are long and very 

 slender, and grow upon several little branches 

 into which the top divides itself. The three 

 most remarkable kinds are the rugi, the quila, 

 and the rush of Valdivia. 



The riigi (arundo rugi) is about as large as 

 the common European rush, which is also well 

 known in Chili. At the foot of the Andes this 

 plant often grows to the height of twenty feet, 

 but diminishes considerably as it approaches the 

 sea, where it scarcely attains twelve. 



The qnila (ari;do quila) is tlirce or four times 

 larjrer than the ruai, but its slioois are nut more 

 than a foot tlisiant from eacli ollicr. 



The rush of V'aldirici (aruiido Valdiviana) 

 has received this name fom the circr.mstance of 

 its PTowiiiC: in the viciiiiiv of tliat ciU , it is of 

 an orange colour ; the slioots are very short, and 

 the joints almost touch each other. Tlie country 

 people make of it cages and other little manu- 

 factures ; they also use it for their hedges, and 

 sometimes to cover their houses, as it is very du- 

 rable wliea it has not been too losig ejcposed to 

 moisture. The Araucanians make use of the 



