PIXE-APPLE FIBRE, ETC. 155 



of the pine apple, as transparent as gauze, exhibiting the entire contour and 

 muscular action of the arms, shoulders, and chest. It hangs loose over the 

 pantaloons, and is alwa} 7 s beautifully finished — often richly embroidered 

 around the collar, bosom, and wristbands. Females wear a transparent 

 short gown of this thin muslin, reaching scarcely below the bosom, and 

 hanging unconfined around the form. Another author says : — 



" In Manila the most expensive article of manufacture is the pina cloth, 

 made by the natives from the fibres of the pine-apple leaf ; the texture is 

 very delicate, soft, and transparent, and generally has a very slight tinge of 

 pale yellow. It is made into shawls, scarfs, handkerchiefs, dresses, &c, 

 and is most beautifully embroidered by the needle. These things take 

 some time to make, and are very expensive ; it is much sought after by 

 foreigners. Even orders for Queen Victoria and the English nobility have 

 been received from time to time ; and the orders are always beyond what 

 can be executed for many months." 



This cloth comes principally from the island of Panay. The web 

 of the pina is so fine, that they are obliged to prevent all currents of air 

 from passing through the rooms where it is manufactured, for which 

 purpose there are gauze screens in the windows. 



The threads procured from the stalks of some wild species of the plantain 

 family are used for very fine and delicate-textured linen and muslin. At 

 Manila there is an extensive manufacture of muslins and sinamaya, or 

 grass cloth, from the coarsest to the finest texture it is possible to manu- 

 facture ; and, sometimes it has been stated, made of fibres so fine, that 

 they require to be manufactured under water, because if exposed to the sun 

 and air they become too fragile to work.* The coarsest fibres of the same 

 plant (Musa textilis) form the abaca, or Manila hemp of commerce, used in 

 the manufacture of cordage. 



Singapore is celebrated for the great abundance and excellence of its 

 pine-apples, which may be obtained during nearly the whole year, and 

 from which, if the accounts published from time to time of the value of the 

 silky thread obtained from the leaves are to be depended upon, a valuable 

 article of export might be gathered. The small circumjacent islands, which, 

 at a rough estimate, comprise an extent of 2,000 acres, are quite covered 

 with fields of this plant ; the fruit only is of any value to the Chinese 

 cultivators, whilst hundreds of tons of the leaves are annually allowed to 

 waste b}' slow decay on the ground. The enormous quantity of leaves that 

 are thus suffered to decompose would supply fibre for a large manufactory 

 of valuable pina cloth, while at present it is scarcely thought of. The fibres 

 should be cleaned on the spot ; fortunately, the pine apple planters are not 

 Malays, but industrious and thrifty Bugis, most of whom have families ; 

 these men could be readily induced to prepare the fibres. Let any mer- 

 chant offer an adequate price, and a steady annual supply will soon be 

 obtained there. 



Dr. Manuel Arruda, in a pamphlet treating of the plants of Brazil from 



* Abel's " Narrative of a Journey in China," 4to., p. 251. 



