76 



and a handful of pandakaki ^ leaves have been added. Other 

 steps follow as in the previous process. 



The Mauban process. — The following description is taken 

 from Circular No. 27, series 1911, of the division of Tayabas : 



Let the unopened leaves, cut from the stalk, stand in a cool shady 

 place for several days. Open the leaves and separate the segments 

 from the midrib with a sharp knife. Put these carefully into a jar 

 or other suitable receptacle filled with a boiling solution of two-thirds 

 water and one-third white nipa or coconut vinegar. Keep the solution 

 boiling until the segments are cooked so soft that folding them leaves 

 no crease. 



Spread the cooked leaves on clean grass to dry in the sun. The 

 drying process may require one or two days. When the segments are 

 quite dry, prepare a jar with clear, soft water and put them in this 

 to soak over night. In the morning remove them from the jar, wash 

 them thoroughly in clear running soft water, and place them in the 

 sun. At noon repeat the washing process until the segments open, 

 then dry thoroughly in the sun. 



It is customary to roll the buri into coils in order to make it more 

 convenient to store. The dry leaflets may be made flexible for this 

 purpose by laying them on the grass at night. After a few minutes 

 they will be flexible enough to roll. Care must be taken to roll the 

 segments smoothly. When used, they should be smoothed carefully 

 and then split into the width required. 



The process can also be followed with rice vinegar substituted for 

 the tuba vinegar. 



Rice vinegar is made as follows: Wash three-fourths liter of rice 

 and cook it in water until it becomes very soft and starchy. Put this 

 in a clean jar and add cold water until the jar is two-thirds full, then 

 cover the jar and let it stand five or six days. This mixture will 

 become very sour. Strain it through a piece of sinamay or other 

 cloth. Cook the segments in this mixture instead of in the solution 

 described in the first process, and then carry out all the other steps. 



The Romblon process. — In Romblon great care is ex- 

 ercised as to the age of the unopened leaf taken for the 

 production of strips. If it is intended to produce bleached 

 material, leaves having petioles about 2 inches long are 

 selected. In the following description, which was submitted 

 by Mr. R. L. Barron, head teacher, one unopened leaf is 

 taken as a unit. The midribs are removed and the segments 

 are rolled into round bundles, say, by fives. These are 

 boiled in clear water for about three hours. The leaves 



' Tabernaemontona pandacaqui. 



