105 
The facility possessed by banana fibre for taking up colour is shown 
in a specimen from Mr. Dickson. Paper prepared from banana fibre 
e . Routledge. i 
and rags is shown from the late Mr. T. Routledg Also various 
ers made from banana fibre in India. From n- 
berger, in 1886, were receive 1, Half stuff from banana fibre; 
s; and 4, 
China clay. There is also a portion of a leaf, gluten and prepared 
paper stock from the pisang utang from Sarawak, contributed by the 
late Mr. T. Routledge in 1875 
Fibre extracted from the Abyssinian banana (Musa Ensete) in 
Jamaica by Mr. Morris was yielded at the rate of 1°16 per cent. of the 
gross weight. The fibre was somewhat weak and dull- -looking ; it had 
none of the lustre p the best plantain fibre, and it was valued in Loader 
at 127. to 147. per to 
Musa Basjoo is said to be grown in Southern Japan for the sake of 
its fibre, It is known amongst Europeans as the “ Japanese plantain. 
i ra 
r. Ridley (Trans. Linn. Soc p. 385), sp eaking of a new species 
deséribed by him oo mataccensis) ‘Bou the oe coast of the Malay 
eninsula in 1893, ad 
“ An attempt has oe ae to utilise the fibre, but it is woe 
not so good as that of M. textilis; still as it is not only v ery abundan 
teint the centre of the Peninsula, but also springs up like a ones 
in many places where old jungle is felled and forms an impenetrable 
thicket, it Mie there be found to be well worth extracting the 
Sante s mple of this fibre, as already noted, is in the Kew 
use 
A Sey interesting series of articles prepared from the fibres of the 
stem of the banana was for wet ae to Kew from the Solomon 
Islands by the Rev. R. B. ‘Com s. The fibre itself is aes in a 
prepared state, some of it vinia ae some black, ready for weaving. 
There is a gps loom of a very primitive construction, cept ntly 
Similar to the ner in West Africa for weaving native “ s” 
(Kew Dallain. "1894, 191). It is capable, however, with dexterous 
manipulation of turning out cloth of a close texture and a very 
durable character. Two garments are nhs own made from banana 
cloth ornamented with small iufis of leaves of a Pandanus. There are 
also shown a decorated bag for holding betel and a sleeping mat of full 
Size. On one of the garments there is woven a tasteful pattern by 
means of the dark-coloureld threads. These garments are singularly 
well made, and they are, next to the Abaca cloth (from Musa textilis 
ele Philippines), the best fabrics in the Museum from bananas 
pia 
of a coarse character but evidently very strong, marked 
“Sime firigo,” said to be pI from a species of Musa, was received 
from the Government of Queensland in 1890. It was obtained from 
the I Kiwai Fly River, New Sues 
e work ornaments worked with banana thread are in the Kew 
Museum from Jamaica, sent in 1855. 
