USES OF CLIMBEPvS. 



39 



The variety in the length, thickness, strength and 

 toughness of these climbers, enables the natives of 

 tropical countries to put them to various uses. Almost 

 every kind of cordage is supplied by them. Some will 

 stand in water without rotting, and are used for cables, 

 for lines to which are attached fish-traps, and to bind 

 and strengthen the wooden anchors used generally in 

 the East. Boats and even large sailing vessels are built, 

 whose planks are entirely fastened together by this kind 

 of cordage skilfully applied to internal ribs. For the 

 better kinds of houses, smooth and uniform varieties 

 are chosen, so that the beams and rafters can be bound 

 together with neatness, strength and uniformity, as is 

 especially observable among the indigenes of the Ama- 

 zonian forests. When baskets of great strength are 

 required special kinds of creepers are used ; and to 

 serve almost every purpose for which we should need a 

 rope or a chain, the tropical savage adopts some one of the 

 numerous forest -ropes which long experience has shown 

 to have qualities best adapted for it. Some are smooth 

 and supple ; some are tough and will bear twisting or 

 tying ; some will last longest in salt water, others in 

 fresh ; one is uninjured by the heat and smoke of fires, 

 while another is bitter or otherwise prejudicial to insect 

 enemies. 



Besides these various kinds of trees and climbers 

 which form the great mass of the equatorial forests and 

 determine their general aspect, there are a number of 

 forms of plants which are always more or less present, 

 though in some parts scarce and in others in great pro- 

 fusion, and which largely aid in giving a special character 



r 



