CHAP. 51.—THE COLOCASIA.
But the plant of this nature that is the most famous in Egypt is the colocasia,2149 known as the “cyamos”2150 to some. It is gathered in the river Nilus, and the stalk of it, boiled, separates2151 into fine filaments when chewed, like those of the spider’s web. The head,2152 protruding from among the leaves, is very remarkable; and the leaves, which are extremely large, even when compared with those of trees, are very similar to those of the plant found in our rivers, and known by the name of “personata.”2153 So much do the people of that country take advantage of the bounteousness displayed by their river, that they are in the habit of plaiting2154 the leaves of the colocasia with such skill as to make vessels of various shapes, which they are extremely fond of using for drinking vessels. At the present day, however, this plant is cultivated in Italy.2155