170 
details are given of the industry in this product in Liberia :— 
“ Piassava was discovered about 1889 by J. H. Hugges, of Grand 
Bassa, Liberia, and was introduced to the commercial world in 
1890. The value of this product was immediately appreciated in 
Europe, and for some years commanded the high price of $288 to 
$336 per ton. Just as the settlements in Montserrado County once 
flourished from the coffee industry, Grand Bassa, with its piassava, 
assumed the primacy in Liberian export trade and became the head- 
quarters for the industry of the West Coast of Africa. The large 
profits attracted the aboriginal population by the thousands through- 
out the Republic, and by 1904 piassava had overtaken coffee and 
was the chief article of Liberian export. For a number of years 
this Republic was the only country from which piassava was secured. 
It proved, however, to be such a profitable industry that Liberia 
was brought into keen rivalry with the piassava from European 
dependencies in West Africa andifibre-producing countries of South 
America, This forced the price down at times to as low as $48 a ton. 
“ Preparation of Piassava.—Piassava fibre is secured from the 
Raphia palm (Raphia vinifera). Indigenous to the country, it 
grows in abundance in Grand Bassa, and is found in every county 
of the Republic. The fronds or branches of the tree are cut up 
into the desired lengths and placed in water—preferably running— 
to remain until all of the substance except the fibre has decayed. 
When sufficiently decayed, the branches are beaten until the fibre 
is free of all extraneous matter, then cleaned by being drawn 
“The Export Trade—Commercial Uses.—The rapid decline of 
coffee was attended by the equally rapid rise of piassava. How-_ 
ever, poor methods of preparation and foreign competition soon 
materially reduced prices, and, quickly following in the wake o 
coffee, piassava receded from its primacy in Liberian trade. The 
local merchants now pay in cash 14 to 2 cents per pound for the 
fibre and 2 to 24 cents in goods, according to quality. The price 
in Liverpool this season is $62-40 to $84 per ton, against $57°60 to 
$97°20 at this time last year. These low prices are causing 
Liberians to turn to more lucrative productions. The amount of 
fibre exported in 1908 was as follows :-— 
Quarter, Pounds. Value. 
psse Dollars. 
: irs iy aie rei 2,297,512 48,022 
nett a ice “aa 1,843,319 52,698 
*Samare nee Se its 531,199 48,420 
garth sess? le ABS 54,168 
Total ... ...| 7,369,862 | 203,308 
Ee el 
