VEGETABLE FIBRES OF THE BAHAMAS. 237 



I 



This valuable tree appears, as far as hitherto known, to be strictly 

 confined to the island of Cuba. The same island produces however 

 another Mimoseous tree, of which the timber is in much use not only 

 in Cuba, but in Jamaica and other West Indian islands, where it is 

 also found, as well as on the mainland of Central America* This is 

 the Pithecolobium JiUcifoUum, called in Cuba, according to Eamon de 

 la Sagra, Moruro and Tengue, A. Eichard says that its wood is hard 

 and durable, whilst Sloane, who describes and figures the same tree 

 very accurately, tells us that although much felled for timber, it is 

 rather soft. The specimens sent as the Sabicu by Don Pedro FeiTcr 

 Landa, agent to the Cobre mines in Cuba, to W. Wilson Saunders, Esq., 

 although in leaf only, appear to belong to this tree, and certainly not 

 to the Lysilomay which, as above mentioned, is, according to Eamon de 

 la Sagra, the true Sabicu. There is therefore still much to clear up by 

 those who may have further opportunities of procuring really authentic 

 specimens. 



Vegetable Fibres of the Bahamas; copy of a Letter from C. E. Nes- 



BITT, Esq., addressed to the Editor, dated 



Goverutnent House, Nassau^ 21st March, 1854- 



I am extremely happy to learn that you had taken an interest in the 

 Pine-leaf fibre, having been the first to publish in England any parti- 

 culars of the manufactory near Breslau; and I also feel gratified to 

 learn that you have taken steps to obtain information relative to some 

 simple raachineiy, adapted to the preparation of Vegetable Fibre. 



If machinery can be obtained for effectually extracting fibre from the 



vegetable substance which encases it, one of the most important ob- 

 stacles to its supply on moderate tenns will be removed. 



There are several valuable descriptions of fibrous plants which 

 flourish in this colony, besides the Pine-fibre, known as ^ Piiie plant,* 

 Bamboo, Aloe, and Manilla: one description was supplied to the colony 

 by the late Vice-Admiral Fleming, when commanding the naval forces 

 on this station; another description was sent comparatively recently, 

 from Florida, by the British Vice-Consul Baldwin. .The fibre from 

 these plants is considered closely to resemble Manilla Hemp. Both de- 

 scriptions are spreading rapidly over the colony; and there are several 

 indiirennnfi linrlrprl fdjri^-nlnnts. cTowinf in masscs at Elcuthcra and 



