PITA OR AGAVE FIBRE. 41 
and silky fibres from Porto Novo, prepared by Mr. Lima. 
But as the plants are not so abundant as in some other 
localities, we cannot therefore expect the fibres to be prepared 
so cheaply as elsewhere. 
Besides the fibre, some twine and cord made with it was 
also sent from Madras and from the eastward. 
Two skeins of the Pine-apple fibre were sent by the Court 
of Directors to the Society of Arts for a report on their pro- 
perties, as long since as January, 1836, but the specimens were 
too small for a trial of their tenacity. 
Mr. Bennett says, that at Singapore, from the expense at- 
tending labour, the pine-apple fibre could not be prepared 
under thirty-eight or forty dollars the pecul ; but in Penang, or 
other places where labour is cheap, and women and children 
could be employed upon it, the expense would hardly exceed 
ten dollars per pecul. 
In the experiments which I have had made with these 
various fibres, a certain quantity of those prepared at Madras 
bore 2601b., while a similar quantity from Singapore bore 
350 lb. before they broke; but New Zealand flax in the same 
proportions bore only 260 lb. 
In a report from the Arsenal of Fort William, dated June 3d, 
1853, the results are given of some experiments made by Con- 
ductor Wilkins on several kinds of rope manufactured by 
Messrs. W. H. Harton and Co., of Calcutta; and among these 
there is one of Pine-apple fibre, of three inches and a quarter in 
circumference. The Government proof is that a rope of this size 
should bear a weight of 42 cwt., but it bore no less than 15 cwt. 
more, that is, it broke with a weight of 57 cwt. (‘Journ. of 
Agric. Soc. of India,’ vol. viii, p. 182); proving incontestably 
that Pine-apple possesses strength for cordage, as well as fine- 
ness for textile fabrics. 
Pita or Acave, commonly called Atoz (Agavee, a tribe of 
Amaryllidee). 
Hindee—Cantala and Bans-keora. Tamul—Petha-kalabuntha. 
The species of Agave, commonly called aloe plants, are natives 
of America, which have become so naturalised in many parts as 
to appear to be indigenous in Africa, parts of India, and in the 
