358 TRANSMISSION OF RHEEA FIBRE FROM ASSAM. 
Major Hannay, besides describing this method as below, 
states that he had been requested to forward to England some 
of the Rheea as stripped from the stalk, and without any further 
scraping or cleaning. But he is of opinion that if the Rheea 
is not immediately deprived of its gummy and mucilaginous 
matter, it would most probably rot before reaching England. 
(This, however, would only be the case if it were not perfectly 
dry, and this may be difficult to effect in a moist climate like 
that of Assam.) ‘‘ A cleaning factory established in the Rheea- 
growing districts, and capital employed to encourage the ryots 
to cultivate, would be the most likely means to cheapen the 
article in the market and increase its subsequent consumption.” 
Ten bales of the Dom Rheea had, however, been sent off to 
this country. 
Dr. Oxley, in reply to the requisition for some of the fibre 
from Singapore, writes (19th July, 1854) that the Ramee is 
indigenous all over the Malayan Archipelago ; it grows freely 
at Singapore, but is not cultivated or planted to any extent, 
and therefore it could not be obtained in any quantity, though 
it is used by the Malays as twine, their common name for which 
is “ tali ramee.”? They make their fishing lines of it, and prefer 
their own lines to any of European manufacture. The refuse 
in preparing the fibre is admirably adapted for making paper, 
and is used for this purpose in Java. As this fibre is remarkable 
for fineness, flexibility, and strength, it seems well worthy of 
cultivation, especially if any cheaper method of cleaning 
can be devised, as it is an object of attention in Java, 
whence it is imported into Holland, and various goods made 
of it, as we have already stated, by the Messrs. Meerburg, at 
Leyden. 
The Ramee, that is, the Rheea of Assam, yielding four or 
five cuttings in the year, amounting to about twelve maunds of 
valuable fibre, must, therefore, be well worth cultivation in 
many localities from Assam to Arracan, also in Pegu, and down 
to Singapore, and perhaps also on the Malabar Coast. We 
therefore republish modes of cultivation and of preparation. The 
first, from Chinese works, is very similar to the directions from 
similar sources given by Dr. M‘Gowan, of Ningpo (v. ‘Journ. 
Agri-Hortic. Soc.,’ vol. vi, p. 209); while the second is that 
which Major Hannay so successfully practises in Assam. 
