APPEND.] 



CAROATA-A9U. 



351 



out much care; from this peculiarity it is that I took 

 the specific name of the species. 



Caroata, Bromelia Karatas : — Lin. 



The little importance which the fibre of this species 

 can claim, renders it unnecessary for me to give a 

 minute description of it. The leaves are from 8 to 10 

 feet long, and afford a great quantity of fibre, but it is 

 not strong, and can only be applied 10 very ordinary 

 purposes. 



Caroata-acu, ou Piteira, Agave vivipara : — Lin. 

 Syst. Veg. 



Class, Hexandria : — Order, Monogynia. 



The only uses to which at the present time this plant 

 is put, are the following. Its spungy pith possesses the 

 property of burning gently without extinguishing; the 

 peasants therefore are in the habit of putting some of it 

 into their fires when they wish to prevent them from 

 going out for a considerable time. Hedges are made of 

 it, by planting the bulbs or tender shoots ; these easily 

 take root and grow. Piso says, " exfoliis hujus plantee 

 optimus pannus coiificitur, qui si rite prteparetur, panno 

 lineo cxcedit : folia stupam quoque et filosam materiam 

 supped itant, ex qua jila et retia sua contexunt pisca fores." 

 From hence it may be inferred that the Dutch knew 

 better than we do how to take advantage of the natural 

 productions of the country. At the present time even 

 the fishermen do not make use of its fibre for their lines 

 and nets, substituting in place of it the crauata de rede. 

 The only use to which the Portuguese apply the fibre of 

 the agave, is in making the cords which the friars of the 

 Third Order of St. Francis, commonly called of Jesus, 

 wear round their waists. 



