Herba Bengalee

HERBA BENGALEE

A plant, native in Bengal, the fibres of which are spun into a yam much prized in the 17th century for making into fabrics. The yarns " were more esteemed and much fairer than silk." Mandelslo in his Travels," 1639, describes it as "a certain herb having on the top of its stalk, which is about the size of a man's thumb, a great button, like a tassel." This tassel is spun out.