444 FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 



a demulcent in fevers, and are also used in dysentery 

 and diarrhoea. Hogs are very fond of the tubers, 

 and cattle eat the culms. In Ceylon the roots are 

 used in medicine under the name of " Kallandooroo," 

 and also in Japan, where they are known as " Hama- 

 sugi."— 'The Useful Plants of India,' Drury, p. 173 ; 

 Kew Museum. 



Distribution : Upper Guinea. 



Adouro root of West Indies {Cyperiis articulatus, 

 L.). — An infusion of the roots is occasionally em- 

 ployed to check irritability of the stomach in the 

 endemic fever of the West Indies. — Kew Museum. 



Distribution : Upper Guinea. 



Cyperus exaltatus, Retz. — This plant yields a fibre. 

 — ' Economic Products of India,' Watt, vol. i., part 

 iii., No. 75. 



Distribution : St. Thomas. 



Papyrus {Cyperus Papyrus, L.). — This plant afforded 

 the substance used as paper by the ancient Egyptians. 

 The paper was made from thin slices cut vertically 

 from the apex to the base of the stem, between its 

 surface and centre ; these slices were placed side by 

 side according to the size required, and then, after 

 being watered and beaten with a wooden instrument 

 until smooth, were dressed and dried in the sun. 

 This species is said to contain about 40 per cent, of 

 strong fibre, excellent for paper-making, and very 

 easily bleached. In Madagascar the plant is burnt 



