ð. Ia 
; isato of the public to this fibre 
229 
COLONIAL OFFICE to ROYAL ee KEW. 
E t 
to you for analysis and report, a box containing 20 Ibs. of bass fibre 
obtained from the Raphia vinifera. 
ord Knutsford will be glad to be informed of the result of your 
I dination of the parcel in question 
m, &c. 
(Signed) sis EDWARD WINGFIELD. 
The Director, Royal Gardens, Kew. 
Sir A. MOLONEY to COLONIAL OFFICE. 
Government House, Lagos, 
My LORD, August 20, 1890. 
I HAVE the honour to report na there will go forward by the 
next mail steamer, addressed to the Royal Gardens, Kew, a box con- 
taining 20 lbs. of a bass fibre raemes from the Raphia vinifera or 
wine palm of West Tropical Afr 
2. The sample I had hinitedly: popei during my last visit to the 
eastern distri ct. 
ay I ask your Lordship to let the Director of the Royal 
Gardens, Kew, who takes such deep interest and gives such encourage- 
ment to the development of the economic botany of our colonies, have 
a copy of this despatch, and to pia ath ny circulation of the minute 
among = various Chambers of Com 
tach a copy of the notice that rene seals appeared inviting the 
I have, &c. 
(Signed) ALFRED MOLONEY, 
Governor. 
The Right Hon. 
Lord Knutsford, G.C.M.G., &e. 
EXTRACT of MINUTE by n Governor of Lagos on the Bass fibre of the 
palm (Raphia vinifera). 
In a letter received fe me, a after my arrival in Lagos 
February last, from a well-known Manchester firm, a sample of a fibre 
known as “ Afri rican Bass” was lor wärded, with the lowing remarks 
“If this can be found and shipped in quantity I could sell iste 
quantities. It should be kept straight, tied up first in small bundles, 
thickness of a man’s wrist, and these made up into bales of about half 
a hundred weight each. It must be kept straight, whatever the length, 
as the bends spoil the fibre and make it difficult to w ork.” 
In the “ African Bass ” o ik ie ible was sent to me I was 
surprised to recognise one ef the commonest of the native fibres of this 
colony, used, I may say, ls every fisherman in the manufacture of his 
