232 
LXX.—WEST AFRICAN BASS FIBRE—(continued). 
(Raphia vinifera, Beauv.) 
[K. B., 1892, pp. 299-300.] 
The following extract from a letter from Mr. W. Crowther, Curator 
of the Botanical Section at Aburi, Gold Coast, refers to the shipment 
of West African Bass from Appam, a si between Accra and Cape 
Coast Castle in the Colony of the Goll Coa 
On my way to Cape Coast I noticed a oa quantity of the Bass 
fibre being shipped from Appam. This valuable fibre is obtained from 
the palm which is so common and plentiful in this part of the colony, 
namely ae vinifera. It is a very important product, being worth 
o 60/ 
from 25.. . per ton, according to quality. Great interest is at 
present see in England in the discovery of similar fibres to this, 
and there is a good market for them, but supply is very small, 
owing chiefly, I think, to the difficulty experienced in extracting and 
cleaning the ele It is chiefly used for brushmaking. I will make 
inquiries and ur obtain information respecting suitable 
machinery for sheanite and preparing this bre, which information, if 
l am able to procure it, shall be published in my next report. 
LXXI—RAFIA FROM WEST AFRICA. 
(Raphia vinifera, Beauv.) 
[K. B., 1895, pp. 88-92.] 
In the Kew Bulletin for 1891, pp. 1-5, an account is given of West 
African Bass fire, prepared from the base of the leaves of the Bamboo 
c 
ton; it rose 6l. per ton, ‘but latterly, in o a, with similar 
fibre from the at palm, the Kitooi, and the original bass produced 
= Brazil, enoo as Para and Bahia piassaba, it has been quoted at 207. 
o 301. per ton. pira at the latter price it supports a considerable 
ae in Wos a. 
t appears probable that the Bamboo palm may be es available 
also for other uses. A strong, useful atei known as Raphia o 
Rafia is shipped to ey country from Madagascar. According to the 
Rev. Richard anges ns S. (Kew Bulelin, 1890, p. 211), it is obtained 
“from the you pened leaves of the Raphia palm.”  Raphia 
Ruffia, Mart. Hist. Mak | Palm, iii., p. 217 (R. pedunculata, Beauv.) is 
confined to Madagascar, It is widely spread in the island, chiefly in 
valleys, k to an elevation of 4,000 feet. It is also found ‘abundantly 
along the coast. The pinnate leaves are 20 to 30 feet in length, with 
numerous narrow leaflets, varying from 24 to 5 feet long. Rafia is 
prepared hea peeling off the cuticle | “(with so:ne of the underlying fibro- 
vascular bundles) on one or both sides of the leaf. It is used locally for 
delicate plaited and woven fabrics, cloths, and hats, as well as for mats 
for covering floors and wrapping up goo More recently it has been 
woven into s Superior matting, tastefully coloured, and used instead of 
tapestry for covering walls in London houses, The loose strips of Kafia 
are in demand in this country and elsewhere in place of Russian or Cuban, 
bast as tie-han1s by gardeners and nurserymen. For the latter purpose 
eas 
