FIBRES. 145 



making. This fibrous substance was known as PALMITE or 

 PALMIET, and is found in quantities encircling the stems of 

 Prionium Palmita, a stout-growing plant of South Africa, 

 belonging to the natural order Juncacese. Though it at- 

 tracted some attention at the time, it never came into actual 

 use. 



Another substance which has come into use in recent 

 years as a substitute for horsehair is known as GRIN VEGE- 

 TAL, and consists of the crushed fibres from the leaves of 

 Ohamcerops humilis, the European Fan Palm. It is culti- 

 vated in some parts of Southern Europe and Northern 

 Africa, particularly by French colonists in Algeria. It grows 

 rapidly, so that almost any quantity of the leaves could 

 be obtained. It is said that one man can cut 400 pounds 

 of leaves per day. The extraction of the fibre, which is a 

 very simple process, is usually done by women and children. 

 The fibres are either dried in their natural colour- green 

 or dyed black to resemble horse-hair, as a substitute for 

 which in upholstery work it is chiefly used. It is exported 

 principally to England, France, Germany, and the United 

 States. The exact date of its introduction is not known. 

 Large quantities of the dried leaves are used for making 

 baskets. 



In the early part of 1889 a new fibre from the west 

 coast of Africa was brought to notice at Kew, whence it 

 was received from the Governor of Lagos. It was sent 

 under the name of BOLOBOLO, and is also known in the 

 Yoruba language as AGBONRIN ILASSA. From specimens of 

 the plant which accompanied the fibre, it was proved to be 

 derived from Honckenya ficifolia, belonging to the natural 

 order Tiliacese. A report on the commercial value of the 

 fibre was furnished by Messrs. Ide and Christie, of Mark 

 Lane, and published in the Kew Bulletin for January, 

 1889. The following is an extract from their report : 

 " We consider this a very valuable fibre of the jute class, 



