20 



ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY, (CEYLON BRANCH.) 



fences. The popular belief, that bamboos often take fire by 

 the violence of their friction during these hot, dry months,, 

 when what is called the laud wind prevails, is supported by the 

 Sanscrit stanza, quoted by Sir William Jones (see As, Kes. 

 vol. 4, p. 254), of which the following is a copy : — Delight of 

 the world, baloved Chandana, stay no longer in this forest 

 which is overspread with rigid pernicious Vansas, whose hearts 

 are unsound; who, being themselves confounded in the scorching 

 stream of flames, kindled by their mutual attrition, will 

 consume not their own families merely, but this whole world." 

 — Hoxb. 



200. Teinostachyum attenuatum, Munro. % c. 143. 

 Beddome Fl. Syl. Anal. Gen. 234. Bambusa attenuata, 

 Thwaites En. PI. 375, 0. P. 3,255. This is a very abundant 

 bamboo in the Central Province, from 4,000 to 6,000 feet 

 elevation. It is from 15 to 25 feet high, and from half to one 

 inch in diameter, unarmed. It is extensively used for making 

 baskets and other purposes on the higher estates in Dimbula. 

 Found in flower and fruit in the jungle near Upper Abbotsford 

 in May 1879, and in January and February, 1880. 



201. Oxytenanthera Thwaitesii, Munro. 1. c. 129v Bed- 

 dome Fl. Syl, t. 322. Anal. Gen. 232. Dendrocalamus- 

 monadelphus, Thw. En. 376. C. P. 3,359. Bambusa stricta^ 

 Eoxb. Cor. PI. t. 80, as far as the plate is concerned, but not 

 the description. 



" This is a very straggling, unarmed, subscandent, weak 

 reed with culms from 10 to 20 feet long, hollow, and 1 to 1^ 

 inch in diameter, 6 very common on the Anamallays, 3,500 to 

 6,000 feet elevation, called Watte ; the hill-men use the leaves 

 for thatching ; it is also found in many other localities in and 

 on the outskirts of moist woods along the Western Ghauts, and 

 is very common in the central parts of Ceylon at the same 

 elevations."— Beddome 1. c. 



