CHAP. 70.—RUSHES: CANDLE-RUSHES: RUSHES FOR THATCHING.
The rush, [Note] so frail in form, and growing in marshy spots,
cannot be reckoned as belonging to the shrubs, nor yet to the
brambles or the stalk plants; nor, indeed, in strict justice, to
any of the classes of plants except one that is peculiarly its
own. It is extensively used for making thatch and matting,
and, with the outer coat taken off, for making candles and
funeral torches. In some places, however, the rush is more
hard and firm: thus, for instance, it is employed not only by
the sailors on the Padus for making the sails of boats, but for
the purposes of sea-fishing as well, by the fishermen of Africa,
who, in a most preposterous manner, hang the sails made of it
behind the masts. [Note] The people, too, of Mauritania thatch
their cottages [Note] with rushes; indeed, if we look somewhat
closely into the matter, it will appear that the rush is held in
pretty nearly the same degree of estimation there as the papyrus is in the inner regions of the world. [Note]
