344 FIBROUS NETTLES. 
to the length and diameter of the sack wanted. It is soaked 
a little, and then beaten with clubs until the inner bark separates 
from the wood. ‘This done, the sack formed of the bark is 
turned inside out and pulled down, until the wood is sawed off, 
with the exception of a small piece left to form the bottom of 
the sack, and which is carefully left untouched. These sacks 
are in general use among the villagers for carrying rice, and 
are sold for about six annas each. 
Nerrizs (Urticacee). 
In treating of Hemp, it was stated that it belonged to the 
natural family of the Nettles, or Urticee. These are widely 
diffused throughout both tropical and temperate climates, 
though they generally occur where there is considerable 
moisture either of soil or of climate. Though small and 
herbaceous in Europe, they grow to a gigantic size in the hot 
moist parts of Asia, and extend from its warm tropical islands, 
all along the Malayan Peninsula, to the foot of the Himalayas, 
and along which, and in its valleys, they flourish, even near 
to the banks of the Sutlej. Species are also found around the 
Neilgherries, and along the Malabar coast to the Concan. 
Though the flowers of all are inconspicuous, some of the 
species (as Urtica pulcherrima) are remarkable for the 
beauty of their foliage; one of them (U. tuberosa) is distin- 
guished by its tuberous rootstock, which is eaten by some of 
the natives of India, either in its raw or cooked state. Every 
one, however, knows that the great characteristic of the 
Nettles is their sting. Some of the Indian species are re- 
markable, even among Nettles, for this quality; as, for 
instance, U. crenulata and U. heterophylla, the latter “a most 
ferocious-looking plant.” Many of the Nettles formerly 
placed in the genus Urtica have been removed to the genus 
Boehmeria, which includes what are sometimes called stingless 
Nettles. But many of each have long been famous for the 
tenacity of their fibre. 
Thus, of the European species, thread and cloth, as also 
paper, have been made from the fibre of the common Nettle 
(Urtica dioica). So, of the Siberian species, U. cannabina, 
