54 Fibres of the Hawaiian Islands. 



Many of the canoe sails, or rather mats, of the Pacific Islanders 

 were made from this fibre, and also a great variety of mats, cord- 

 age, hut covering and netting. 



PINBAPPI^B. 



Endogen. Structural Fibre. BromcUacecc. Bromclia sylvestris. 



One of the most useful and beautiful fibres is that yielded by 

 the Pineapple, an almost stemless plant bearing a rosette of tena- 

 cious lanceolate leaves. The lustre, texture and strength of this 

 fibre place it in the first rank with ramie and flax, and enable it to 

 be woven into every quality of fabric from durable table cloths to 

 the most delicate lawns. The celebrated Piiia muslin or Batiste 

 d'ananas of Manila is woven from this fibre and sometimes con- 

 fused with China-grass cloth, from which it may be distinguished 

 by its untwisted yarn. The pineapple is said, by some authorities, 

 to be indigenous to Assam, and by others to Brazil. It was intro- 

 duced to Europe early in the sixteenth century, and the rapidity 

 with which its propagation spread is unparalleled in the history of 

 fruit. The plant which aflords the fibre of commerce differs in 

 appearance from the edible variety chiefly in the unmassed ovaries 

 of its fruit. In preparing the fibre by hand the operator sits astride 

 a low stool and scrapes the leaves with a two-handled blade of 

 bambu. When the fibres are exposed they are gathered together 

 and detached with a steady pull. After washing they are placed 

 upon bambu frames to dr}' and bleach. Pineapple fibre lends itself 

 readily to a diversity of uses, and being impervious to moisture 

 and consequent rotting, is particularly applicable to the manufac- 

 ture of fishing lines and for stringing necklaces. 



The culture of the pineapple for fruit is carried on with much 

 success in Hawaii, the product of these Islands being conceded by 

 some connoisseurs to be the best in the world. Much speculation 

 has been turned to the possibility of utilizing the fibre from the 

 waste leaves of the fruit plantations. It appears dubious whether 

 any great measure of success will reward the endeavor to secure 

 two so diametrically opposed ends as the simultaneous produ(5lion 

 of fruit and fibre from this plant, whose fibres penetrate not only 

 the leaf but also the fruit. That the fibre of plants grown for the 

 table could be used is certain, but its short length and comparative 



