PIASSAVA 



205 



duced into the markets of Europe in 1 890 ; it is of a 

 rich brown colour, and is finer and more flexible than 

 Brazilian piassava, but only i J to 2 feet long. Only 

 small quantities of this piassava appear in commerce. 



West African Piassava. Large quantities of pias- 

 sava are now produced in West Africa from Raphia 

 vinifera, the " wine-palm/' which occurs abundantly 

 in many parts of the country. It was first introduced 

 into European commerce in 1890 from Liberia, the 

 head-quarters of the industry being situated at Grand 

 Bassa. The large profits obtainable from the collec- 

 tion and export of this product soon attracted atten- 

 tion in other parts of the West Coast and the trade 

 rapidly extended. 



The masses of fibrous strands which constitute 

 the sheathing leaf-bases are cut from the trees and 

 immersed in water for a few days until all the non- 

 fibrous matter has decayed. The strands are after- 

 wards cleaned by drawing them through a primitive 

 kind of hackling instrument consisting of nails driven 

 fairly closely together into a board. In some districts, 

 the product is cleaned by drawing the strands through 

 split bamboos which are either held by the feet or 

 stuck into the ground. The fibre is then carefully 

 dried by exposure to the sun. West African pias- 

 sava varies in colour from light brownish red to deep 

 brown, is 3-4 feet long, and of a stiff, wiry and very 

 resistant nature. It is used chiefly for making brooms 

 and brushes, but can also be employed for the manu- 

 facture of baskets, chair bottoms, etc. 



In the Ivory Coast, piassava is obtained from Raphia 

 Hookeri, but although the palm is very abundant, 

 only small quantities of the product are exported. 



Imports of Piassava into the United Kingdom 



