FIBER PLANTS. 149 



family which does not possess a rope-making apparatus similar to the 

 simpler forms of those used in rope walks elsewhere. Ori the east 

 coast of Guam, in traveling from Pago to the southern extremity of 

 the island, it is necessary to cross the mouths of several rivers. Balsas, 

 composed of several layers of bamboo, are used for this purpose. The 

 cables by means of which they are pulled across are made from the 

 fiber of Pariti tiliaceum. Though this fiber is not easily worn out in 

 its natural condition, its strength and durability are increased by the 

 application of tar, such as that used on board ship. Among other 

 members of the mallow family are several species of Sida, called 

 "escobilla" by the natives. They grow without cultivation on the 

 island, in waste places and along the roadsides. They yield a good, 

 strong fiber, but on account of the abundance of other material the 

 natives do not use it. Allied to these in general appearance and use 

 are several species of Tiliaceae, including Triumfetta procumbens, 

 which is called "masigsig" by the natives, allied to the species which 

 produce the jute of commerce, so extensively used in the manufacture 

 of gunny sacks, matting, and carpets. They are not, however, utilized 

 in Guam. 



The principal member of the Urticaceae, or Nettle family, is the 

 celebrated rhea fiber plant (Boehmeria tenacissima). In Guam it 

 grows to the height of a shrub or small tree, though in many other 

 parts of the world it is herbaceous. Though allied to the nettles in 

 appearance and inflorescence, it is not armed with stinging hairs. 

 The closely related Boehmeria nivea, which yields the China "grass 

 cloth" fiber, is a plant of temperate regions, the lower surface of the 

 leaves being covered with white down, like felt. The leaves of the 

 Guam plant, though pale beneath, are not coated with felt. This 

 plant, though of great importance in other parts of the world and 

 growing in Guam rankly and without care, is in this island not 

 utilized at all, except for medicine. 



The last species I shall mention is the principal member of the 

 Moraceae, the breadfruit tree (Artocarpus communis). In addition to 

 its importance as yielding the principal staple of food, excellent wood, 

 fodder for animals, and a gum suitable for paying the seams of canoes 

 and for use as a medium in mixing paints, it yields a tough leathery 

 bark, which in the olden times was made by the natives into aprons or 

 breechcloths. 



Tapa cloth, which is made from it in other islands of the Pacific, was 

 apparently not made by the aboriginal inhabitants of Guam. The 

 paper mulberry, Papyrius (Broussonetia) papyriferus, the tapa plant 

 so widely spread throughout Polynesia, does not occur in Guam. 



MAT AND HAT PLANTS. At least four species of pandanus occur in 

 Guam, two of which, called "pahong" and u kafo" by the natives, are 

 widely spread in the forests, and furnish food to the fruit-eating bats 



