INDIAN BASTS. 239 
1. Theng-ban shaw.—Coarse-looking, and of a reddish-brown colour, but 
divisible into a number of very thin layers, with a good deal of flexibility, 
and some toughness. A portion twisted into rope. 
2. Pa-tha-you shaw.—Strips seven feet in length, and fine in texture, 
light-coloured, formed of several easily divisible layers; the outer layers 
rather dense and compact, and the inner cancellar. A Muse species (?). 
8. Shaw-phyoo.—Long, thin, smooth layers, light-coloured, tough, and 
flexible; easily divisible into still finer layers. 
4. Ngan-tsoung shaw.—Fibres and rope sent, but mislaid. 
5. Shaw-nee—Of « reddish-brown colour, rough and coarse, but twisted 
into rope. 
6. Eee-gywot shaw.—Strips five to six feet in length, composed of several 
layers; of which one side is smooth and compact, but the layers on ‘the 
other side thin but cancellar, all having a considerable degree of toughness. 
Mr. Ripley, in ‘Journ, Agri-Hortic. Soc.,’ viii, p. 147, describes three 
parks under the names Shaw-ne, Shaw-phrus, and Batharan shaw. These 
may be Nos. 5, 3, and 2. But the spelling differs much. He also mentions 
several useful Rattans at Akyab. 
There are no doubt a great variety of other basts, which 
might easily be procured from trees in Assam, Arracan, and 
all along the Malayan Peninsula, as well as on the Malabar 
Coast. In an account by Mr. Fenwick of the vegetable pro- 
ducts of the Tenasserim he mentions a bast rope of consi- 
derable strength, and also that plantains and pine-apples are 
very abundant there. All the above places are on the sea-coast, 
or accessible by river. But Akyab, where so many are already 
produced, seems the most favorable situation for their export to 
Europe, if it should be found desirable. It is probable that 
several might be much improved by a little steeping in water, 
as practised with the Russian bast. 
Some of those sent to the Exhibition of 1851, and of which 
the plants are unknown, may here be mentioned. 
Patoo or Asta is a bast from Beerbhoom, is like the Putwa 
from Bhagulpore, and will be noticed with it. 
Chehoor, a pale, brownish-coloured cordage from Beerbhoom, 
coarse, and of moderate strength. 
Bark string, made by Hill tribes of Rajmahl, of useful size 
and strength. 
Bark rope, with the coarse but strong fibre of which it is 
made: also from Rajmahl. 
Several Bark cloths from the Islands, &c., will be mentioned 
with the Paper Mulberry, formerly Morus, now Broussonetia 
papyrifera. 
There is a remarkable cord without name, which seems to 
be formed of a salvage of fibre, with a yellowish bark folded or 
