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        THE ROPEMAKER.
   The Ropemaker twists several kinds of
materials, particularly hemp, into yarn, and
afterwards several strings of such yarn, as-
sisted by a wheel, into a large and more
compact cord. When the article is of a
small description, it is called a cord; when
larger, a rope; and the largest is called a
cable. Ropes of all kinds are generally made
of hemp twisted or spun, something after
the manner of the spinning of wool. The
places in which ropes are made, are called
rope-walks, and are sometimes a quarter of
a mile or more in length, in the open air,
and have a row or rows of trees planted be-
side them for shade, or are covered with a
slight shed to keep the workmen from the
inclemencies of the weather.  At the up-
per end of the walk is a spinning-wheel,
which is turned round by a person who sits
on a stool or bench for the purpose. The
man who forms the rope, has a bundle of
dressed hemp round his waist; from this he
draws out two or more ends and fixes theni
on a hook; the wheel is then turned, and
the threads are twisted; and as the spinner
walks backward, the rope is lengthened. This
is a very ancient trade, though boasting of
no great ingenuity.