266 STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF THE 



seldom more than seventeen or eighteen inches, sometimes 

 not above three or four. In the interior parts of the country 

 they mount from the earth to the tops of tlie loftiest trees, then 

 descend to insert themselves in the earth, and then again 

 mount to the neighbouring tree, connecting the trees in this 

 manner in various directions. Sometimes they coil themselves 

 round the trees, and sometimes insert their tendrils into the 

 bark, thus destroying them either by compression or starva- 

 tion. The nibbees are made use of for fastening the thatch of 

 houses, for which purpose they are split into small ligaments. 

 The stalks are of different forms, some are round, others are 

 angular, flat, or grooved. 



Troolies are leaves of an enormous size. They are used to 

 cover houses, which they protect from the most violent rains, 

 and last'for many years. This leaf is about twenty or thirty 

 feet in length, and two or three in breadth ; it is supported by 

 a strong stalk about three inches in circumference at its com- 

 mencement. About twelve of these leaves, each supported 

 by its stalk, grow from the roots. In the center of these 

 leaves a short stem shoots up, upon which is a cluster of light 

 yellow flowers, these falling off" are succeeded by large round 

 nuts. 



The plant, the root of which is the ipecacaunha, grows to 

 about three feet in height. The leaves are large and smooth. 



