On the fibrous plants yielding the Grass-cloth of China. 211 
The striping process is very easy. It appears to be difficult to re- 
move the fibres from the Canton Ma, as it is soaked in water for 
more than 48 hours before peeling, which is done by men. They 
first cut off the roots, and then separating the fibre from the stalk, 
strip it off by drawing it over a pin, fixed ina plank. In either 
t process half of the fibre is taken off at one stroke. The next 
process is scraping the hemp, to facilitate which the fibre is first 
soaked in water. The knife or scraper is about two inches long ; 
its back inserted in a handle of twice the length. This rude im- 
plement is held in the left hand, its edge which is dull, is raised_ 
a line above the index finger. Strips of hemp are then drawn 
over the blade from within: outwards, and being pressed upon by 
the thumb, the pilous portions of one surface, and the mucilagi- 
nous part of the other are thus taken off. ‘The nae then “rolls 
j up like boiled tendon :” after being wiped dry, it is exposed to 
the sun for a day, and then assorted, the whitest itn oclected 
for fine cloth. 
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erations.are in some rae repeated. After being ‘ried in the 
sun, an important operation then succeeds by women and children, 
to whom i is entrusted the ‘tedious process of splitting the fibres, ~ 
which they do with their finger nails. Expert hands are able to. — 
carry this division very far. When,this process has been precéd-* 
ed by hatcheling, the shreds are finer and softer. Th le threads 
are formed into balls, and subjected to frequent soaking ee 7 
ings. The ashes of the mulberry leaf are recommended to a Dt 
put in the water with the hemp, others use lime, fora whole night:*** - a 
Some simply expose it to dew and sun. In r Ye “ang cloud .*. ‘ 
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moisture darkens it. The threads are now read ys fo rs i 
work of women and children, the labors of the. ult 
concluded. when the threads:are rolled into bale 
or stiffened with rice-water. ~ Before’ the. thread sfeady forthe. * 
ee weaver, the es are dicamed over. the, syapor 0 ging water in a: 
a closed ¢ utet9. _ The subse- 
ey ty 2 3 Comm ‘ibelu , ~ 
HA : 
7 epttin 
nd rede for matches. Its. flowers are yéllo bs 
- Very ‘coarse’ cloth and Bsandals are, made from its, fibre. The neat 
-) thread of this Mam n. Kongsi, is said to be ag fine as a .3 
s likega* 
a Ma or Han (ays 2 aoe and also called - 
8 re ey 
~ ae 
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