6 Dk. Arnott on Fiassava, or Piagaha. 



Glasgow, \st November, 1848.— We have examined the Treasurer's Account, and com- 

 pared the same with the Vouchers, and find that there is in the Union Bank of Scotland 

 Thirty-two Pounds Four ShiUings and Sixpence, and in the Provident Bank, Fifteen 

 Shillings and Fivepence, together, Thirty-two Pounds Nineteen Shillings and Elevenpence 

 at the Socitv's credit. 



THOS. DAWSON. 



WILLIAM COCKEY. 



Note by Treasurer. ~\\th November, 1848.— The Balance at credit of the Society is 

 £80 15s. 3<1. less at commencement of this Session than it was at the same period of last year. 

 This arises chicHy from an excess of expenditure to about that amount this year in the 

 Library department, for Books, Binding, and Book Presses. There are six Members in 

 arrears of payment for one year only each. At the commencement of last Session there 

 were 213 Members on the roll, and during the sitting of the Session IS Members were 

 admitted, and 3 Non-Residents restored, making 234; but from this fall to be deducted two 

 removed and non-resident, six resigned, and four dead, which reduces the number on the 

 list, and from which dues are leviable, to 222. 



The Exhibition Fund, deposited with the Corporation of the City, and Interest thereon 

 to this date, amounts to £493 14s. lid. 



2M November, 1848.— TV^e President in the Chair. 



Mr. Keddie reported that the Botanical Section had re-elected its 

 office-bearers, as follows : — Dr. G. A. Walker Arnott, President ; Mr. 

 William Gourlie, Vice-President; Mr. Francis Leeshing, Curator of 

 Herbarium ; Mr. William Keddie, Secretary. 



The following gentlemen were admitted members of the Society: — 

 Mr. James Wylson, Alexander King, M.D., Mr. Henry Kerr. 



Dr. R. D. Thomson read an account of the Thibet expedition under 

 Dr. Thomas Thomson, Jun., which has been published in Sir William 

 Hooker's Journal of Botany. 



Dr. Walker Arnott brought under the notice of the Society a substance 

 whicli has been lately imported into Glasgow, under the name of Piassava, 

 or Pia^aba, but which, from its being unknown in the market, had to be 

 again shipped for London, where, as well as in Manchester, it is weU 

 known as a substitute for bristles or whalebone for brushes and street 

 besoms, besides being applied to many other pm-poses for which it is fitted, 

 by the great length, elasticity, and strength of its fibre, as well as its 

 capability of resisting the action of damp. In Brazil, it is made into 

 strong ropes for ships and draw-wells, and is exported chiefly from Bahia. 

 Dr. Arnott mentioned that it was obtained from the palm called now 

 Attalea funifera by authors ; and the portion used is understood to be 

 the spatha, and the tlilated base of the leaf-stalks, which latter splits 

 into shreds, and hangs like a veil from the tree. The nut of this palm 

 is figured by Gaertncr, and was formerly known under the name of 

 Cocos lapidea, and is imported under various names from Bahia and 

 Brazil, for the purpose of being turned into umbrella handles, ink 

 bottles, and other ornamental articles; Init the importers of the nut 



