88 
ea stems, but the greater majority are more or less 
e leaves are often long, rather tough and leathery and 
aca armed along the margin and on the midrib of the 
under surface with numerous sharp, recurved prickles. On some 
islands large tracts of land are covered with these plants, growing 
Fic. 14. Fancy basket made from the leaves of the screw-pine. 
so close together as to form an almost impenetrable mass of vegeta- 
tion, while other species are to be found growing singly or few ina 
group. The leaves and roots of the screw-pine are the two parts 
commonly utilized. The former are cut in large numbers, tied into 
bundles and carried by the men to the village, where the prickles 
from the margins and under surface are removed by the women. 
Each leaf is first exposed to fire, and is then taken in the left hand 
and with a sharp, four-bladed knife, held in the right hand, it is cut 
into strips of a uniform width. After soaking in water for several - 
days, the strips are spread out and bleached in the sun. Upon 
wrought into any desirable shape without injury to the fiber. 
