ee en ais 
235 
the present time. It would be safer to count only on the more normal 
price of = fibre, and this during the last few years has been about 307. 
per to 
MESSRS. IDE AND CHRISTIE to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW. 
72, ee Lane, London, E.C., 
DEAR SIR, March 4, 1895. 
Yours of the 2nd instant, with sample of West African Rafia, 
to hand. This we have seen once or aioe before, and sold with diff- 
culty, being very inferior to the Madagascar. The former is very sho: 
and hairy, not long and aew hes the ates and would appear to be 
peeled from much smaller lea 
We return your specimen pres with a piece of the usual Madagascar. 
Whilst the latter is available the trade would only look at the West 
African at about half the price. 
Yours faithfully, 
(Signed) IDE AND CHRISTIE. 
The ardeii account of the production of Rafia fibre has been 
published in the United States’ Consular Reports for April 1894. 
It was prepared by Mr. Edw. Telfair Wetter, the United States Consul 
at Tamatave : 
Rafia Palm Fibre. 
This fibre is the product of the Rafia palm (Raphia Ruffia), one of 
the most useful of the palm family. The tree is a native of Madagascar, 
After removal on “he tree the leaves are separated, the leaf spears 
or feathers being cut away from the heavy leaf stalk or large centre 
rib and their tips cut off or not, according to the whim or needs of 
each worker. The inhabitants of the fishing villages are the main 
producers of Rafia fibre, because they are the main consumers of the by- 
products, making their finer fish nets from = small centre Sh or spine 
that runs down the middle ‘of each leaf spear. The entire native popu- 
lation use poe am stalk or large centre ony in all their building and 
covering, which, in the closed condition of the spear is, for the moment, 
the outside, This removal is readily accomplished by making as i 
cut across the leafy flesh above mentioned, about one inch from the 
base. The 
