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[Page 177]

173.
Some account of New Zealand

But of all the plants we have seen among these people that which is the most excellent in its kind & which realy excells most if not all that are put to the Same uses in other Countries is the plant which serves them instead of Hemp & flax  of this there are two sorts  the leaves of Both much resemble those of flags  the flowers are smaller & grow many more together  in one sort they are Yellowish in the other of a deep red  of the leaves of these plants with very little preparation all their common wearing apparel are made & all Strings, lines, & Cordage for every purpose & that of a strengh so much superior to hemp as scarce to bear a comparison with it  from the same leaves also by another preparation a kind of snow white fibres are drawn  shining almost as silk & likewise surprizingly strong  of which all their finer cloaths are made & of the leaves without any other preparation than splitting them into proper breadths & tying those strips together are made their fishing nets. so usefull a plant would doubless be a great acquisition to England  especialy as one might hope that it would thrive there with little trouble as it seems hardy & affects no particular soil being found equaly on hills & in Valleys  in dry soil & the deepest

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