MCRKE] 



THE MAKING OF THE BALSA 



217* 



of maiiufacrure (only stray shreds of the interior 

 cordiug could be found in an old and abandoned balsa 

 on Punta Antigualla). As the bundle approaches 

 the requisite size, the building process changes; the 

 butts of the successively added stalks are thrust 

 obliquely into the interstices extending beyond the 

 butts of earlier-used canes, and the stems are 

 slightly bent to bring them into parallelism with 

 their fellows; and this interweaving process is con- 

 tinued with increasing care until, when the bundle is 

 completed, there are no visible butts (all being 

 pushed into the interior of the bundle), while the 

 only visible tips are those projecting to foim the 

 tapering extremities. The finished bundle is theu 

 secured by a spiral winding of slender cord. Two 

 other bundles are next made, the three being entirely 

 similar, so far as is known ; then the three are Joined 

 by a lashing of slender coi'd like that used for the 

 separate bundles, which is twined alternately above 

 and below the central bundh- in such manner as to 

 hold the three in an approximate plane save toward 

 the extremities, where the lashing is much firmer 

 and the tajiering tips of the bundles are broug'.t into 

 a triangular position, i. e., the i)osition of smallest 

 compass. The cordage is of either mesquite root or 

 maguey fiber, the former being the more common, 

 so fai? as observed (doubtless by reason of the dearth 

 of the latter plant); it is notably uniform in twist 

 and size, though surprisingly slender for the pur- 

 pose, barely three-sixteenths of an inch, or 5 mm., in 

 diameter, and limited in quantity.' The only tools 

 or implements used in the manufacture (and repair), 

 so far as is known, are light wooden marlinspikes, 

 two of which are illustrated in figure 26; these are 

 used in working the cane-butts into the bundles. 

 In collecting the canes the tassels are broken off and 

 the leaves stripped by the unaided hands, while 

 the stalks are broken off usually below the secondary 

 roots in the downward taper, aud the rootlets and 

 loose ends are removed either with the hands or 

 by fire. 



The finished balsa is notably light and buoyant. 

 The Boca Infierno specimen was estimated to weigh 

 about 250 pounds (113 kilograms) when thoroughly 

 dry, and little more than 300 pounds (126 kilograms) 



® 



Fig. 26— Seri marlin- 

 spikes. 



'Only the finer cording shown in plate xxxi is original, the coarser ropes having been added to 

 facilitate handling. 



