35 



among which must be numbered Chavan- 

 nesia esculenta.* 'Now, if the creepers that have 

 annually to be cat down were converted into fibre 

 and shipped to Europe, a large revenue would result 

 from what it has cost us hitherto a considerable 

 amount to clear away. Here again is a subject which 

 challenges our careful consideration. 



46. Before concluding the first section of my 

 pamphlet, I would desire to draw promi- 



be^esthoserneu- 



fibrous plant, and I take the opportunity of saying, 

 in passing, that I have by no means exhausted the 

 stock at our disposal. 



47. All who are familiar with the varied and 

 profuse vegetation of Burma must have 

 f- observed the prolific growth of the wild 



ter dyeing. 



plantain throughout the province, most, if not all 

 the forests being clothed with a sub-arborescent 

 growth of this magnificent herbaceous plant, whose 

 stems are formed partly of the united petioles of the 

 leaves, charged with spiral vessels. These are capa- 

 ble of being disengaged abundantly, yielding strong 

 filaments, which are of a silky silvery white, and 

 retain their lustre even after they are dyed. The 

 fibre of this plant is not only valuable for paper, but 

 likewise for light fabrics, the finer sorts of furniture 

 hangings, damask, upholstery, &c.f 



*Note on Caoutchouc obtained from the Chavannesia esculenta. By 

 G. W. Strettell. Government Printing Press, Rangoon, 1874. 



t Last May I drew Mr. Routledge's attention to this fibre, and I believe 

 a small sample consignment has recently been sent to him from Burma. 

 It is not at all improbable that the cost of preparing the fibre has far 

 exceeded its market value, but this should not discourage the authorities, 

 nor lead to the abandonment of the enterprise, for it must be remembered 

 that first experiments are always expensive, especially when conducted 

 by inexperienced hands. 



