93 VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES. 



plant being* immersed, the next day they are wholly 

 covered with water ; thus the thicker and more woody 

 part of the stalk is steeped longer than the thinner, 

 which is apparently a judicious practice. When the 

 plants have been macerated three or four days, the 

 dresser, standing* in the water, takes up a handful of 

 the plant, breaks it in the middle, and strikes each 

 part successively on the water until the fibre sepa- 

 rates from the reed. When this is accomplished 

 the filaments are hung up to dry. If intended for 

 fishing-nets, or other small lines, they are afterwards 

 combed ; but for common use they are merely sepa- 

 rated a little with the fingers, made up into bundles, 

 and considered fit for sale. 



Rope made of this material has the property of 

 becoming much stronger when surcharged with 

 moisture than when in a dry state. A dry cord broke 

 in raising a weight of 148 Ibs., which, after being- 

 soaked in water for twenty-four hours, and while 

 yet wet, sustained 222 Ibs. weight without breaking. 



Paat, or Corchorus olitorius, or Bhangce, is an- 

 other plant whose fibres are used for the purposes of 

 making* cordage in India. It is an annual plant, 

 flowering in the autumn, and growing wild in many 

 parts of India, but carefully and extensively cultivated 

 in Bengal. Its fibres, for cordage, are known in 

 commerce by the Bengal name Jute. Under culti- 

 vation, its stem is round and smooth, its height from 

 three to four feet. When wild, it is short and ramous. 

 It has been called Jew's mallow, because the Jews 

 in India boil and eat its leaves with their meat. 

 But this particular use of it is not confined to ths 

 Jewish people, for both Hindoos and Musulmans cook 

 and eat its leaves. This seldom attains a greater 

 height than four feet, and shoots out many lateral 

 branches, which renders it a difficult task to separate 

 the fibres from the woody parts. It is in conse- 



