42 RATTANS 



and its fine head of plume-like leaves, supported on 

 a slender and graceful stem, render it the universal 

 favourite amongst its beautiful tribe. 



Of the remaining articles useful to the natives, 

 either in their own economy or for exportation, the 

 numerous kinds of rattans and canes are of the great- 

 est importance. They are produced from many 

 species of the genus Calamus, and abound in all the 

 old and dense jungles in damp situations. The leaves 

 of many of them being furnished with a long and 

 slender mid-rib, which extends far beyond the pinnae 

 of the leaf, and furnished with strong curved spines, 

 are particularly troublesome to persons travelling in 

 the jungles. Their slender form rendering them in- 

 visible unless carefully watched, they frequently catch 

 the clothes, or person, and cannot be detached except 

 by walking back a pace or two, and carefully un- 

 hooking them. 



The different kinds of rattan vary very much both in 

 size and in the appearance of the leaves ; some of them 

 being smooth and spineless, with leaves like those of 

 the bamboo ; others rough, with spines covering the 

 stems and ribs of the leaves : of the former class 

 are all the smaller rattans, such as bear that name in 

 commerce, while to the latter belong the Malacca cane, 

 and other strong varieties. The rattans of Borneo are 

 esteemed finer than those produced in any other part 

 of the world, and are exported to Singapore and 

 Batavia in immense quantities from the Coti and 

 Banjar rivers : on the south and eastern parts of the 

 island they are collected, and brought down these 



