126 GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE 
as well as of its colour. Careful drying cannot be omitted, as, 
if packed up in a moist state, fermentation followed by complete 
destruction would ensue. 
The characteristic of these fibres generally, is that they are 
white in colour, of different degrees of fineness, and most of them 
capable of bearing a considerable strain, but liable to break at 
knots. They are, therefore, not suited to all the purposes of cord- 
age, but admirably so to many, from strength and lightness, as 
well exemplified in the case of Manilla Hemp. There is, 
however, an unreasonable prejudice against white cordage, 
though its true nature can be better ascertained than when 
soaked with tar. From the experiments of Du Hamel and 
others, it appears that this substance, unless carefully washed, 
promotes the decomposition of vegetable fibre; and though it 
is undoubtedly useful at the surface when ropes are exposed 
to wet, there does not seem any advantage in its covering the 
interior. Many compositions could, no doubt, be devised, 
for covering the exterior, which would be efficacious in 
excluding wet. 
These fibres, though well known to the natives of the 
countries where the plants are indigenous, have not attracted 
from others the attention which they deserve, especially as they 
are produced in abundance, and necessarily very cheaply, as 
most grow in a wild state, or from the refuse of cultivation 
that has already paid its expenses. Almost all, moreover, are 
produced on the sea-coast, or in moist climates traversed by 
navigable rivers, and therefore could cost little for carriage. 
All would be valuable as affording employment for the people, 
and material useful to them for a variety of purposes, if not 
for exportation. 
Of these, we have shown that both Grasses and Sedges 
abound as well on the banks of the Indus as of the Ganges, 
and might be turned to useful account. The Pine-apple 
abounds in Assam and the Tenasserim provinces; and in the 
islands near Singapore nearly 2000 acres are covered with it, 
according to Mr. Logan,! who recommends their cultivation 
for the manufacture of Pina cloth. The Moorva and the True 
Aloes, as well as some of the so-called “ Silk-grasses” of South 
America, and the inner fibres of the Plantain, resemble each 
1 «Journ. of the Indian Archipelago,’ vol. ii, p. 528. 
