4A -CORDAGE OF PITA FIBRE. 
Pita fibre was sent to the Exhibition of 1851 from the island 
of Madeira, and also from Barbadoes and Demerara. Thread 
and paper made from Agave americana were also sent from 
Mexico, and fibre is also said to be obtained there from a 
species called “ Moogai’”——A. diacantha by botanists. 
The name Pita seems to be also applied to similar fibres ob- 
tained from species of Bromelia and of Yucca, as well as of Agave, 
according to Dr. Hamilton, of Plymouth; and it is probable that 
it is so, for these are all very similar to each other, Dr. Hamil- 
ton further states, that the weight of Pita fibre being one sixth 
less than that of hemp, the difference would be very considerable 
for the entire rigging of a ship and produce a sensible reduc- 
tion in the top weight, and thus increase the stability of the 
hull. He considers it also more durable than hemp, and that 
it bears the alternate action of humidity and of dryness with 
little injury; hence it is preferred for cables, standing rigging of 
vessels, nets for fishing, &c. The difference in hygrometric action 
is also in favour of the pita. In afew months’ trial in H.M.S, 
Portland, a log-line, 300 feet long, of Pita, contracted sixteen 
feet two tenths, whilst a similar one made of hemp contracted 
twenty-one feet six tenths; the contraction, moreover, of the 
Pita ceased on the third day, while that of the hempen cord 
continued the whole time. The two lines have been deposited in 
the stores of the dockyard at Plymouth. 
At Amboyna, says Labillardiere, the natives produce threads 
from the bastard Aloe, called Agave vivipara : the master of the 
house went and cut a leaf off this plant, and, resting it on his 
thigh, in order to scrape it with his large knife, he took off its 
pulp, and obtained from it a fascicle of threads as long as the 
leaf, and as strong as those of our best hemp. 
The Agave grows well on the north coast of Africa, and its 
fibre has been paid much attention to by the French since 
their occupation of Algeria. There, it is stated, when fodder 
is scarce, cattle will eat the younger leaves when cut into 
transverse slices. A cloak and paper made of this fibre were 
sent to the Exhibition of 1851; and ropes have been made of 
the fibres—of these the strength is very considerable. 
The Agave or Pita fibre being so extensively employed in 
different parts of the world, there is no doubt that it would 
be a valuable culture for many parts of India. It was pro- 
