148 



TEXTILE FIBRES. 



as the Wine palm; hence its name of vinifera. It grows extensively 

 in West Africa and in Lagos. It is said to cover 5000 square miles. 



The fibres are long, their length varying from 3 to 4 feet. They are 

 obtained from the leaf-stalks ; their bristle-like character renders them 

 suitable for stiff brooms. 



These fibres are commercially of recent origin and have been used by 

 the natives for fishing-lines. The prices obtained for this kind of fibre is 

 generally below that of the Monkey and Bahia kinds. A few years 

 ago the price was 12 to 16, now it is 20 to 30 per ton. 



Fig. 97 shows a bundle of specimens of the bristle-like fibres of the 



Fig. 97. West African Bass fibres. 



West African or Cape Bass, natural size. They vary considerably in 

 thickness, as shown in fig. 96 ; their surfaces are rough and of an 

 irregular russet-brown colour. They are strong and wiry in texture. 

 After the fibres have undergone a cleaning, they are more rotund and 

 uniform in thickness, and possess a considerable amount of pliability. 

 They are utilised with Monkey Bass for the purpose of making the 

 cheaper kinds of brooms. 



Sir Anthony Moloney published an account in the Kew Bulletin 

 of 1891, p. 4, as follows: "When the leaves are cut away from 

 the lower part of the palms, portions of the leaf-stalk are left adhering 

 to it. These leaf-stalks encase the trunk, and project upwards and 

 outwards, forming Chevaux de frise all round it. From the fibre in 



