PARAO PINGUIN. 45 



not due, as some suppose, to the life of the species being of such a 

 duration, but to favourable circumstances in the season. 



" The Pao attains a height of 40 to 60 feet, and the culms average 

 in thickness the human thigh. It is used for large water vessels, and 

 its leaves form admirable thatch, in universal use for European houses 

 at Darjeeling. Besides this, the Lepchas are acquainted with nearly a 

 dozen kinds of bamboo; these occur at various elevations below 12,000 

 feet, forming even in the pine woods, and above their zone, in the skirts 

 of the rhododendron shrub, a small and sometimes almost impervious 

 jungle. In an economical point of view, they may be classed as those 

 which split readily and those which do not. The young shoots of 

 several are eaten, and the seeds of one are made into a fermented 

 drink, and into bread in times of scarcity; but it would take many 

 pages to describe the numerous purposes to which the various species 

 are put." 



The genus Bambusa and some allied genera include a number of 

 species from India, China, and Africa, used for making ornaments, baskets, 

 pipe stems, hats and walking sticks. 



Petanelle. This is a fabricated material composed of specially 

 prepared peat fibres incorporated with wool fibres. The fibrous peat 

 gives the cloth certain antiseptic properties, and the woollen fibres serve 

 as an elastic wool clothing possessing certain prophylactic properties. 

 Petanelle is typical of the animal and vegetable fibres. It is made J into 

 various articles of clothing, such as shirts, cycling and golf hose, also 

 dressing gowns. For woven examples of Petanelle I am indebted to 

 "Pate, Burke & Co.," Wool Exchange, London. 



Pine Apple Fibres (Ananassa sativa or Bromelia Ananassa, 

 Bromeliaceae). The fibres obtained from the leaves of this plant are 

 fine and silky, and have been used for cordage making and for mixing 

 with cotton fibres, and as a substitute for silk. "Pine Cloth," a 

 durable fabric, is produced from it. This cloth is reputed to possess 

 the property of being impervious to water. The breaking strain of 

 some pine apple fibres has reached 150 Ibs. 



The plant is grown in the hothouses of the Royal Gardens, Kew. 

 The leaves are long, sheathing at base, linear in form, with variegated, 

 spinose, horny margins. The fibres are arranged in the longitudinal 

 direction of the parallel veined leaves and are long, fine and lustrous. 



The plant is chiefly grown for its delicious and luscious fruit. It 

 is a native of South America, and is cultivated extensively iii the 

 Bahamas, Fiji and Natal, as also in the fruit- and hot-houses of 

 England. 



Pinguin Fibre (Bromelia pinguin, L., Bromeliacese). A native of the 



