rattans and their uses. 165 



for protecting sulphuric acid bottles, several of the leading acid makers 

 were applied to for orders, and the result was of the most satisfactory 

 nature, and has led to a large business. Messrs. Reynolds, assisted by Mr. 

 Dance, thereupon put up machinery for making the baskets, and have pro- 

 tected the same by patent. The manufacture of these baskets is likely to 

 prove one of the greatest boons to the sulphuric and other acid manu- 

 facturers, as the old willow baskets are a continual source of annoyance ; 

 for when the acid is spilled upon the willow work, it soon becomes rotten, 

 and hence the carboys are frequently broken. The rattans having a large 

 amount of silica on the outer bark, the acid has no effect upon them, and 

 the baskets appear as good after three months' wear as when first made. 

 This species of covering is especially suited for protecting carboys of acid 

 intended for'exportation. 



Rattan skips are now also superseding, in cotton factories, those made of 

 willow, buffalo hide, &c, having the advantage of durability, smoothness, 

 and elasticity ; and the saving to some of the large cotton spinners will be 

 immense. Some estimate of the gain may be formed from the fact, that 

 the cost of a stock of skips, or baskets, to one cotton manufacturer, is 

 £2,600. These skips are also made in very large quantities by Messrs. 

 Reynolds and Dance's patent machinery. 



The numerous economic uses to which rattans might be applied in this 

 country are scarcely yet developed. They might be employed with advan- 

 tage for baskets for fruiterers, gardeners, hucksters, hosiers, potters, and 

 grocers ; for coal baskets and clothes baskets ; for the cars of balloons ; for 

 rustic and garden chairs ; for lattice work ; for meat safes ; for rough door 

 matting and brooms, and very many other purposes. The present wholesale 

 price of rattans is 2d. to 3d. per lb. ; and, notwithstanding the great distance 

 they are brought, they are sold as cheap in the London and Liverpool markets 

 as in China. In contrast to this, and as showing the benefits of extended 

 commerce, I may state that a working whipmaker remembers rattans costing' 

 3s. per lb., when whalebone, which was used for the same purpose, was 

 sold at Is. per lb. From Java 80,000 to 90,000 piculs of rattans are 

 exported annually, and from Siam about 200,000 bundles. 



The exports of rattans from the Straits settlements, including Sarawak, 

 for the last three years, have been as follows, in piculs (of 133^ lbs.) : — 



1859 1858 1857 



To Great Britain 27,171 15,204 6,115 



„ Europe 4,779 5,922 7,302 



„ United States 14,011 17,536 5,475 



Total 45,961 38,662 18,892 



Assuming 12 bundles to the picul, this would give an aggregate of 

 551,532, 463,944, and 226,704 bundles respectively. Three qualities of 

 rattans are quoted in the Singapore prices current, and the following were 

 the prices by the last advices, Oct., 1860 : — Loontie, 4 dols. 10 cents. 

 to 4 30; Cotie, 3 to 3 A. dols. per picul; and Straits, 1£ to 2£ dollars. 



