410 JOURNAL R. A. S. (CEYLON). [Vol. III. 



grass cloth fibre, the Urtica heterophylla called vegetable 

 wool, the Calatropis gigantea or mudar, Hibiscus canna- 

 binus, from which gunny bags are made. 



The extraction of fibre during the native rule was one of 

 the services imposed oh the Rodiya caste, who had to supply 

 the stores of the King with ropes made of different fibres 

 chiefly of the Sanseviera and Kitulov jaggery palm. 



These people up to this day continue manufacturing 

 fibre ropes, and they are very expert in extracting fibre 

 with the hand, which I ascertained when I employed 

 them for the purpose : but they are indolent and do not 

 seem to care about working regularly. 



One of the most remarkable fibres found in the districts 

 is the Sanseviera Zeylanica, or bow string hemp. This 

 plant grows in great abundance in the otherwise barren 

 parts stretching towards Batticaloa, and the lower road 

 to Kandy. It has 5, 6, 8, 10, 20, radical leaves, with dark 

 matches or spots across, which disappear when they be- 

 come old. The young leaves are nearly round, and the 

 old ones are marked with longitudinal lines terminating 

 on an obtuse point. Plants growing near streams yield 

 good strong white fibre, the best kinds being obtained 

 from the young leaves ; these generally measure from one 

 to three feet ; the longest of those growing at Alipot, 

 reached to four feet and a half. 



The natives have recourse to various methods oi extracting 

 the fibre, by scraping the leaves, and maceration. To two 

 sticks fixed in the ground a piece of split bamboo with a 

 sharp edge is fastened horizontally at a convenient height 

 for the operator. He begins by scraping the base of the leaf, 

 and twisting the fibre round a piece of stick, with which 

 he holds the leaf firmly, and draws the upper surface towards 

 him ; thus scraping the pulp and with it removing much of 

 the short fibre, which will make good tow. The Rodiyas 

 substitute a buffalo's rib for the sharp-edged bamboo, placing 



