372 STRENGTH OF THE RHEEA OR NETTLE FIBRES. 
“st. Being cut in August or September, the weed is 
exposed for one night in the open air. 
“2d. The stalk is then stripped of leaves and dried in 
the sun. 
* 8d. When well dried it is deposited in an earthen pot which 
contains water mixed with ashes (the refuse remains of any 
wood fire), and boiled for four and twenty hours. 
“Ath. The stalk thus boiled is then taken to a stream and 
well washed. 
“5th. The Hemp is then brought home, and being sprinkled 
with flour (otta) (of the grain called Koda), it is again dried 
in the sun, and afterwards spun at any time into cord for nets 
of every description.” 
As no distinctive characters are given of these Nettles, it 
is impossible to determine the respective species. In Gurhwal 
and near Simla, Urtica virulenta and U. heterophylla are 
common as stinging Nettles, as well as some others; while of 
species of Bochmeria, the B. frutescens, macrostachya, Goglado, 
salicifolia, are found, and all probably abound in fibre, though 
a few only have been as yet ascertained to do so, as has been 
mentioned in the preceding pages. 
STRENGTH OF THE RHEEA OR NETTLE FIBRES, 
With regard to the strength of these Nettle fibres, it has 
already been stated that Dr. Roxburgh found the Rami or 
Caloee bore 240 1b., when Hemp bore 158 lb., and Sunn 150 lb., 
v. Table, p. 268. Messrs. Sharpe, in 1815, found a cord bore 
252 Ib., when Russian Hemp was only required to bear 82 Ib. 
So in our experiments with these fibres in an untwisted state 
(already quoted at p. 131), Petersburgh Hemp bore only 160 lb., 
when China-grass bore 250 lb., the Rheea 320 lb., and the 
Wild Rheea 343 lb. Mr. Henley had previously found the 
Kunkhoora or Rheea to bear about three times the weight of 
Russian Hemp. Capt. Thompson also thought it about three 
times as strong; and though rather too wiry, he considered it 
would make excellent cordage, as well ascanvas. But though 
this is too valuable to be applied to such purposes, we have 
in the Wild Rheea equal strength with greater flexibility, and 
all that is required, as is Apparent from the following ab- 
