MATS.
Matten, . . DoT., GER Galeran, Klasa, MALAY. Nattes, . . . . Fn. Burya, . . . . PERS. Chattai, . Goa., HIND. Esteiras, . . PORT., SP.
Stuoje, Stoje, . . IT. Progoshld, . . . Rus.
Tikar, Bogor, . MALAY. Hassir, . . . TURK.
Mats are formed of rushes, of the bark of trees, or of the leaves of different species of palm trees, interwoven, and are made in all countries. In Russia, bast mats are manufactured from the inner bark of the lime tree, and China mats are in general use in India for covering floors and lining staircases. In India, in places where bamboos or canes grow readily, mats are made of these materials, but also of Andropogon muricatus. Pandanus odoratissimus.
Arundinaria falcata. P. furcatus.
Arundo donax. Papyrus pangorei.
A. tibialis. Phtenix dactylifcra.
Borassus flabelliformis. P. sylvestris.
Calamus rotang. Phrynium dichotomum.
Chamasrops Ritchiana. Saccharum sara.
Cocos nucifera. S. fuscum.
Cyperus inundatus. S. spontaneum.
Hedychium spicatum. Thalia dichotoma.
Malocochnte pectinata. Typha angustifolia.
Maranta dichotoma. T. elephantina.
Saccharum fuscum, the Khari of Bengal, is made into the mat called Chanch. Cyperus inundatus, the Meliya of Bengal, is made into the Jhentala mat. Palghat mats, made of the split stems of a species of Cyperus, are very strong and durable, pleasant and cool to lie on, and remarkable for their quiet colours and peculiar patterns. The Darmas mat of Bengal, used to sleep on, is made from the Arundo tibialis. The Moula mat, the Kachkachya, the Valandiya, the Kati from the Pati grass, and the Hogala, are other mats. Table mats in use by the people of India are often gold embroidered.
The leavzs of the Pandanus odoratissimus make a very fine matting, largely employed by cabinet makers as a packing material. The leaves of the palmyra are largely used for the palm-leaf books in use by Hindu and Buddhist sects. The stalks of Andropogon inuricatus are used as a thatch grass, and its roots are woven into screens, called tatti, which are wetted to cool the atmosphere.
In Arakan there are six kinds of bast, called Sha, which might be successfully fabricated into mats. The Sital Pati mats of Bengal are made from the Phrynium dichotomum. Several species of Typha, Juncus, and Saccharum, in the Madras Presidency, are applied to useful purposes. Many
of the mats exported from Calcutta are made from the Papyrus pangorei. Some of the Burmese mats are made from the split stems of the Maranta dichotoma, called Then, which grows abundantly in the forests of Burma and the Tenasserim Pro vinces, but the large coarse mats in general use in Burma are made from the leaf of the Pandanus furcatus? Tha-ban, BUM., known as the lowland screw pine, in distinction to the highland species of Pandanus, which grows on the high lands above tide waters, from which the smaller and finer mats are fabricated. Chinese table mats are ex ported to all parts of the world. Floor mats of China are made of a rush cultivated for the purpose ; the best are the Lien-tan mats, plain white or plain red and white. The manufacture of matting for sails of Chinese boats and junks, for floors, for bedding, and envelopes of boxes and cases, employs thousands of workmen. The exportation is to the United States, India, South America, Sydney, etc. Besides mats made of rattan for table-furniture, grass mats for floors are largely exported from China. The latter is manufactured of different widths and patterns, and though the amount annually sent abroad is large, it forms a very small proportion to the home con sumption. A sail containing nearly 400 square feet can be obtained for ten dollars. The rolls are largely exported and still more extensively used in the country for covering packages for shipinent. A stouter kind made of bamboo splints serves as a material for huts, and many other purposes that arc elsewhere attained by boards or canvas.
The manufacture of mattings from coloured grass has long been carried on successfully in the Madras Presidency, and those from Cochin, Pal ghat, Tinnevelly, and Wandiwash are in consider able demand, on account of their brilliance of colours, fine quality, and extreme cheapness. Several grasses appear to be employed, some being broad, flat, and soft, while others are round, fine, and wiry ; the mats of Cochin, Palghat, and the western coast are of the latter description, and are the more durable.