FIBROUS SPECIES OF HIBISCUS. 259 
calculated for rope-making, as also for coarse fabrics. But, 
though esteemed by some of the natives of the West of India, it 
is not so good as the best Brown Hemp of Bombay—to be men- 
tioned in connexion with Sunn. 
As the fibres of this Hibiscus and of the Sunn are not dis- 
tinguished from each other, or from others, in the account of 
the Exports from the Ports of India, we shall give these under 
the head of Sunn, and reserve also to that article some obser- 
vations on the preparation of these Exogenous fibres in India, 
as well as on their prices, and the quantities in which they may 
be obtained. 
OtHeR Matvacecovus Fispre-yIiELDING PLants. 
In connexion with Hibiscus cannabinus we may appropriately 
mention the other fibre-yielding species of the same genus. 
Among these we find those which are also used as articles of 
diet ; as, for instance,— 
Uibiscus esculentus, the Okhro of the West Indies, with which 
is now united the H. longifolius of the East Indies, the 
Bandikai of Madras, the Ram turai and Dhenroos of Bengal ; 
and from both of which the Bammia of the west coast of 
Africa probably does not differ essentially. Of all these, the 
long, young pyramidal pods are filled when green, with a large 
proportion of mucilage, on which account they are gathered 
when green, and cooked as a vegetable, beimg much esteemed 
by many, though considered too viscid by others. The fruit 
is also used to thicken soups in the countries where it is 
indigenous and in the South of France and in the Levant. 
The seeds may also be added like barley to soups, and have 
been recommended to be roasted as a substitute for coffee. 
The bark of these plants also abounds in fibre, which is of fine 
quality, as in many others of the same genus. Dr. Roxburgh 
cut the stems when the seed was ripe, and committed them to 
the steep a few days after. (For results see p. 268.) 
H. Abelmoschus, so named from the Arabic hub-ool-mooshk, 
in Hindee mooshkdana, or musk seed, is called calee kustooree in 
Bengal. The seeds have been so named on account of their 
odour. The plants abound in mucilage, and are much employed 
