USEFUL SPECIES OF CANE. 93 
These, when their smooth and shining dense outsides are 
separated in strips, are universally employed for caning the 
bottoms of chairs, of couches, and for other articles. Some are 
occasionally twisted into ropes, in the localities where they are 
indigenous ; but they are more generally employed as sticks, and 
for mat-making and cane-work, as their great strength allows 
of such narrow strips being employed, as to allow of large 
spaces being left, and thus enables strength to be combined 
with lightness and free ventilation. 
The species of Calamus abound in the Islands of the Indian 
Archipelago, as well as in the Malayan Peninsula.. A few 
species are found within the Madras territories, but in India 
they chiefly abound in the forests of the districts of Chittagong, 
Silhet, and Assam, whence they extend along the foot of the 
Himalayas as far north as the Deyra Doon, where a species is 
found which the late Mr. Griffith has named C. Royleanus, 
and applied the name of C. Roxburghii to the plant which Dr. 
Roxburgh called C. Rotang, common in Bengal and on the 
Coromandel Coast. Both are called. det, and used for all the 
ordinary purposes of cane; as are C. ¢enuis of Assam, gracilis, 
extensus, and others. C. Scipionum of Loureiro, Mr. Griffith 
considered to be the species which yields the well-known 
Malacca Cane, but the plant does not appear about Malacca. 
He was, however, informed that the canes are imported from 
Siak, on the opposite coast of Sumatra. 
The extensive uses to which Canes are applied, both in their 
entire and split state, are well known. They are abundant in 
all the moist tropical parts of the East, both on the continent 
and in islands. In Java, the cane is cut into fine slips, which 
are platted into excellent mats, or made into strong, and, at the 
same time, neat baskets. In Japan, all sorts of basket-work 
are made of split cane, and even cabinets with drawers. Cane 
is also platted or twisted into cordage, and slender fibres are 
made to answer the ordinary purposes of twine. It is stated 
that in China, as also in “Java and Sumatra, and indeed 
throughout the Eastern islands, vessels are furnished with 
cables formed of cane twisted or platted. This sort of cable 
was very extensively manufactured at Malacca.” The species 
employed for this purpose is probably the Calamus rudentum 
of Loureiro, which ,this author describes as being twisted into 
