SEDGES—-PAPYRUS—BHABHUR. 33 
Munja) as a towing rope and for the rigging of their vessels, 
in all places above Sukkur. But below.that place Coir rope 
is very generally employed, being better able, I believe, to 
stand the action of salt water, The Moonja, however, is possessed 
of great tenacity, as is evident from two-inch ropes, often fifty 
fathoms in length, made of its fibres, being sufficient for 
dragging their largest or 1200-maund boats up the Indus, and 
consequently against the full force of the stream, even round 
projecting points. The rope is also possessed of lightness, so 
advantageous for rigging, and is capable, also, of bearing, 
without injury, alternate exposure to wet and to subsequent 
drying. Both qualities being essential for atow-rope. Mr. 
Burns has also informed me that plants growing beyond the 
range of the overflowings of the river, or of the influence of 
the tides—that is, in the interior of the country, where, 
indeed, it grows in vast abundance—are possessed of the 
greatest strength. The upper leaves, about a foot or so in 
length, are preferred and collected. Having been made up 
into bundles, they are kept for use. When required for 
twisting into rope, they are first moistened in water: two men 
then, sitting opposite to each other, take one of these moist 
bundles and beat it alternately with mallets, until the loose 
cellular are separated from the fibrous parts. These are then 
ready for twisting into the ropes which are so extensively 
employed on the Indus. It is evident that a continuation 
of the same process, or the employment of the Dhenkee of 
India, would afford a very ample supply of half-stuff for paper- 
makers, and at a cheap rate. 
Sepexs (Cyperace). 
Sedges nearly resemble grasses in appearance, but grow 
usually in moist situations, and are distinguished from them 
by their angular stems. They are remarkable for so few of 
them being useful for any purpose—not even for fodder. 
One of them, however, is famous as having yielded the 
Papyrus of the Egyptians, employed by them for making paper, 
ropes, and even boats ; and of which the plant is so frequently 
represented in their sculpture and paintings. An Indian 
species of Cyperus (C. teyetum, Roxb. ; called Papyrus Pangorei 
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