BULRUSHES—VACOA OR SCREW PINES. 35 
which are erected over the large rivers, where sanghas or 
wooden-planked bridges cannot be made, on all the principal 
thoroughfares of this district, are constructed of this silky 
species of grass, the cables of which are of a considerable 
thickness. These rope bridges are a very safe means of com- 
munication over the large and rapid rivers intersecting 
different parts of the country, both for travellers and men 
with loads; and, where the footway and sides are properly 
laced with brushwood, afford an easy enough roadway for loaded 
sheep—but neither ponies nor cattle can travel over them. 
This grass grows abundantly in all the ravines up the sides of 
the mountains, and is to be had only for the cutting—but it 
is not of a very durable nature, though pretty strong when 
fresh made into ropes. It lasts about a twelvemonth only, or 
a little more, and the people in charge of the rope bridges are 
constantly employed in repairing and annually renewing the 
ropes and stays. The ‘chinkas,’ or temporary bridges of a 
single cable, upon which traverses a seat in the shape of an 
ox-yoke, are also sometimes made of this grass.” 
Butrusues (Typhacee). 
Bulrushes, so conspicuous in the marshes of Europe, extend 
also to similar situations in most parts of India. The leaves 
are in some parts of Europe employed in making mats and 
winter coverings for plants, as well as for stuffing chairs. I have 
already recorded that the leaves of putera and reree (or Typha 
elephantina and T. angustifolia) are employed in making mats 
in North-West India. Dr. Stocks informs me that in Sindh 
the former is called pun, and its leaves employed for making 
mats aud baskets. The pollen, like that of Lycopodium, is 
inflammable, and used as a substitute for it in Europe. It is 
also collected in Sindh, and there called Jooree. 
Vacoa or Screw Pines (Pandanacee). 
The Screw Pines, having fruit something like that of 
pines, and flowers not more developed than those of the Bul- 
rush, are remarkable for their gigantic Bromelia-like leaves, 
arranged in a spiral manner. Though abounding most in 
