CORDAGE AND CLOTH OF MANILLA HEMP. 67 
ing layers of fibres, which are in fact the petioles of the leaves. 
Of these layers the outer are harder and stronger, and form 
the kind of fibre called dandala, which is employed in the 
fabrication of cordage. The inner layers consist of finer fibres, 
and yield what is called dupis, and used for weaving the nipis 
and other more delicate fabrics; while the intermediate layers 
are converted into what is called éupoz,! of which are made web- 
cloths and gauzes, four yards long, of different degrees of fine- 
ness. These are universally used as clothing. Some being so 
fine, that a garment may be enclosed in the hollow of the hand. 
Mr. Bennett says, at Manilla there is an extensive manufacture 
of muslin and sinamaya or grass-cloth; as if, like in the notice 
at Calcutta, the Abaca was supposed to yield China grass. 
The stem-like mass consists of cellular tissue and fibres, with 
much thickish, watery fluid, which requires to be pressed out. 
The fibrous coats, when stripped off, are left for a day in the 
shade to dry, and are then divided lengthwise into strips, three 
inches wide. Blanco says the petioles are stripped off one by 
one, and an incision is made across inside with a knife, to take 
off the bark which covers them. They are then scraped with 
an instrument made of bamboo, until only the fibres remain. 
Sometimes they require much pressing while being scraped. 
Blanco says the strips are placed beneath the cutting edge of 
a knife fixed in a long bamboo, which acts as a spring; and 
the Abaca being placed beneath the knife, is drawn through 
strongly by one end. This must act as a scraper, but much of 
the Abaca is said to be spoiled. When sufficiently scraped, the 
bundle of fibres may be shaken into separate threads; some- 
times they are washed, and then dried and picked—the finest 
being separated by the women with great dexterity. Those for 
cordage require no further preparation. Those for fine weaving 
are rendered soft and pliable by beating them with a wooden 
mallet, after having been made up into a bundle. They are then 
fastened to each other by “almost invisible knots’”—but rather, 
have their ends gummed together, as in the case of the Pine- 
apple fibre —then wound into balls, and afterwards committed 
to the loom. 
! Besides Pina fibre, already mentioned at p. 39, fibres of “Jussi” and striped 
Jussi dresses were sent from Manilla to the Exhibition of 1851, and “ Bijuco” fibre 
is mentioned. The- plants yielding these fibres are not known. 
