22 



H. B. M. A?nbassador at Bogota, to Director Public Gardens and 



Plantations, Jar.iaica. 



British Legation, 

 Bogota, October 30, 1902. 



Sir, . ^ 



In answer to your enquiries regarding the hat industry, I must re- 

 fer you to His Majesty's Representative in Peru whose jurisdiction 

 extends to Ecuador, for information regarding the manufacture of 

 " Panama hats" in the latter Republic. 



These hats are also made in Colombia, and I enclose a memorandum 

 with some details which may serve your purpose, but I regret I am 

 unable, owing to the unsettled state of the country, to procure the 

 samples of straw you want. Not that I think they would help you as 

 from the process mentioned in the memorandum of its preparation the 

 straw would deteriorate on the way to Kingston. 



I would suggest, if this hat industry is to be introduced into Ja- 

 maica, the best plan would be to import an expert " boiler" and " hat- 

 ters" to properly teach the ar^. 



I am. 



Sir, 

 Your obedient Servant, 



0. Mallett. 



Information relating to the " Panama hat" industry in Colombia. 



Panama hats are made in Colombia in the departments of Santan- 

 der (near Bucuramanga) Antioquia (near Aguadas, Southern Cauca 

 and Southern Tolima (Suaza district). 



A traveller will take from ten days to three weeks to get from Bo- 

 gota to any of these places : it all depends on the state of the roads 

 and the time of the year. During the rainy season, some of the roads 

 become almost intransitable. 



To day, an average Suaza hat cost there about $120. A fine one 

 poo to $400— a very fine one $600 to $800. Prices change weekly 

 according to the demand there may be. During the last eighteen 

 months steady weekly rise has taken place. 



The Suaza hat is considered here very superior to the Ecuador hats. 



The common fan-shaped palm, called by the natives "palmiche" is 

 the one used in the manufacture of these hats. 



Young shoots, very uniform as to size are cut from the plant and 

 boiled to a certain stage. Thus they become a uniform light yellow 

 colour. When the proper boiling point has been reached they are 

 hung up to dry and all leaves quickly separated. This is done in- 

 side the house, where there is a draught but no sunlight. When the 

 leaves are nearly dry, they are split with a little Y shaped wooden 

 tool so that every good leaf is exactly the same size as another. Left 

 alone then to dry, as above, the leaves curl in at the edges and then 

 are ready for manufacture. The " straw" is carefully wrapped in clean 

 clothes, as the light and the dry atmosphere spoils them. 



In the Suaza district hats are made on solid wooden blocks, two to 

 four persons (usually women) sitting opposite each other steadily at 

 work. An average hat is thus made between four women in a week's 

 time. A fine hat will take from three to six weeks' time. When 



