•v-S-'i''-^ ytiJv'T- 4 -' 





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358 



MACAIBA. 



[append. 



that is, caeh in its cup ; the male flowers are two and 

 two. * 



These are the fibrous plants of Brazil which are of 

 the most importance. It is evident that of all that 

 have been mentioned there are only four which can be 

 made use of advantageously for cordage. The caroa 

 (bromelia variegata) ; the crauatd de rede, (bromelia sagc- 

 naria) ; the caroata-acu {agave •vivipara) ; and the fibre 

 of the rind of the coco da praia (cocos micifera); their 

 cheapness, the ease with which they may be prepared, 

 their abundance, and the possibility of obtaining them 

 still cheaper, render these the fibres of chief importance. 

 The fibre of the leaf of the tucum, which has been so 

 much extolled, and that of the macaiba, and of the den- 



* " The inhabitants of the plains of Iguaracu make use of it to 

 fasten together the rushes from which they make the mats that are 

 used for pack-saddles." — Discurso sobre a Utilidade da Instituicam 

 de Jardims, §c. 



Padre Ignacio de Almeida Fortuna told me, that he had had a 

 pair of stockings .made from the fibre of the Macaiba. I brought 

 some of the fibre to England ; it is extremely strong and fine. I 

 think Dr. Arruda may perhaps have been rather hasty in ranking it 

 with the tucum, in the difficulty of obtaining it. At Itapissuma, 

 near to Itamaraca, a great quantity of thread is manufactured for 

 fishing-nets, &c. and it has at that place a fixed price. — Traml. 



" Referring the meeting to what was communicated in the last 

 annual Report on the subject of a species of hemp, manufactured 

 from the leaves of a particular kirn! of palm which abounds in Sierra 

 Leone and its neighbourhood, the directors have now to add, that 

 one of their Board, Mr. Allen, has lately subjected a small quantity 

 of cord, manufactured from this substance, to experiments calcu- 

 lated to ascertain its strength, as compared with the same length 

 and weight of common hempen cord. The result has been very 

 satisfactory." In five trials, the average is as follows : " hempen 

 cord 43 lbs. 3-fifths. African cord 53 lbs. 2-fifths, being a difference 

 in favour of the African cord of 10 lbs. in 43 lbs." Fourth Repor' 

 of the Directors of the African Institution. 



