BOOK XIX. VII. 27-ix. 31 



easily between the middle of May and the middle of 

 June, wliich is the season when the plant ripens. 



\'III. When it has been plucked it is ticd up in Manujaeture 

 bundles in a heap for two days and on ihe third day 'chifl"'^"' 

 untied and spread out in the sun and dricd, and then 

 it is done up in bundles again and put awav under 

 cover indoors. Afterwards it is laid to soak, prefer- 

 ably in sea water, but fresh water also will do if sea 

 water is not available ; and then it is (h-ied in the sun 

 and again moistened. If need for it suddcnlv becomes 

 pressing, it is soaked in wai-m water in a tub and put 

 to drv stanchng up, thus securing a saving of labour. 

 After that it is pounded to make it serviceable, and it 

 is of unrivalled utiUty, especially for use in water and 

 in the sea, though on dry land they prefer ropes made 

 of hemp ; but esparto is actually nourishcd bv bcing 

 plunged in water, as if in compensation for the 

 thirstiness of its origin. Its quaHty is indeed easily 

 repaired, and however old a length of it may be it can 

 be combined again with a new piece. Nevertheless 

 one who wishes to understand the value of this 

 marvellous plant must reaHze how much it is cmpkiytid 

 in all countries for the rigging of ships, for mechanical 

 appHances used in buikling, and for other require- 

 ments of Hfe. A sufficient cjuantity to serve all these 

 j)urposes will be found to exist in a district on the 

 coast of Cartagena that extends lcss than 100 miles 

 along the shore and is less than 30 miles wide. The 

 cost of carriage prohibits its being transported any 

 considerable distance. 



IX. We may take it on the evidence of the Greek J^ariy «« o/ 

 word" for a rush that the Greeks used to employ ^0/,"^'" 

 that plant for making ropes ; though it is well known makmg. 

 that aftcrwards they used the leaves of palm trees 



439 



