114 VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES. 



ships' cables, and other strong ropes were likewise 

 made of it, and when its fibres had been properly 

 prepared, in. a manner similar to those of flax and 

 hemp, it was used for various fine works. 



It was much prized by the Carthaginians for 

 cordage, and there would appear to be good reason 

 for esteeming it, even in the present day, since it has 

 the valuable property of not being injured by con- 

 stant exposure to moisture. The Romans were fully 

 aware of the advantage attending the use of this 

 material for the rigging of ships, and for other pur- 

 poses ; but the freight of so bulky an article was, in 

 those days of imperfect navigation, too expensive to 

 allow of its extensive adoption. At that time the 

 commercial interchange between countries was neces- 

 sarily limited to articles which bore a high value in 

 proportion to their bulk, and we learn from Pliny, 

 that the difficulty and cost of transport were sufficient 

 obstacles to prevent the introduction of so useful a 

 material into foreign countries. 



At the present time the Stipa tenacissima is used 

 by the Spaniards for various purposes, especially in 

 the manufacture of a kind of shoe called alpergates, 

 with which, according to Beckmann, " they carried 

 on a great trade to the Indies, where they are found 

 very useful on the hot rocky and sandy soil*." This 

 foreign trade may have failed, but the peasants in a 

 considerable part of Spain, at this day rarely use any- 

 other kind of chamsure. The alpergates is rather 

 a sandal than a shoe. As worn by the Catalans (a 

 fine-limbed race of men), it has a graceful and 

 classical air, however rustic be its material. 



The Sparto of Africa is very inferior. When this 



plant is wanted for use it is torn up by the roots, a 



labour which is found very difficult of performance. 



The person who is about to undertake the task pro- 



* Beckmann's History of Inventions, 



