VEGETABLE ElBRES. 



183 



(Nat. Ord. Palmace^E), This fibre resembled exactly a 

 sample of one^ which the author once saw prepared from 

 the leaves of the fine Brazilian Carnauba palm^ Coryplta 

 cerifera (Plate YIII. fig. 38). 



Duchai Hemp, fibre of j^EscJiynomene cannahina (Nat. 

 Ord. Leguminosce) . 



Morgahee, African Hemp, or Bowstring Hemp fibres, 

 prepared by hand from the leaves of Sanseviera Zeylanica 

 (Nat. Ord. Liliacece), found all over the tropics of India 

 and Africa. 



Elax from Bvehmeria candieans (Nat. Ord. Urticace^) , 



Fibres of Neilgherry Nettle — Urtica keterophi/Ua. (Nat. 

 Ord. JJrticacecE^ 



Caloee Hemp, Ehea fibre, from Urtica tenacissima. 



Besides these East Indian fibres, there is one of some in- 

 terest which has been occasionally imported from Owhyee, 

 and probably other islands of the Pacific. One sample only 

 has been seen by the author : it was called Pu-lu or Vegetable 

 Silk, and w^as introduced experimentally for mixing with silk 

 in the manufacture of hats, — whether successfully is not 

 known. After much difficulty the author ascertained that 

 this substance was derived from the tree-ferns : the unde- 

 veloped circinate leaves of the growing axis being beauti- 



