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and clean. by the stiff fibres of. a new material for making brushes 
* and brooms; those of the maehines, as well as those employed by 
hand; and if anyone is ied e be the origin of this fibre, the 
* frequent aus is, * Whaleb s suppose." But, no; it is not o 
** animal seme origin, eoarse fibre of a species of palm 
s (Attalea Jefe w hich = s abundantly i in Brazil. e ee 
** material, ac to its stoutness an din. is employed 
5 iid pes as well as for broom iind brushes. The heed 
23 ees of the leaf-stalks separates into a pe we fringe, which is 
** eollected Fa the natives and used in the country or exported to 
* Europe for the purposes above mentioned, and now Monaten a 
“ iiih article of commerce 
'* The fruit or nuts of this palm are another article of commerce, 
** Jong ieit into England under the name of Coquilla nuts, and 
* extensively used for various kinds o turmery-work, especially 
* making handles of bell-pulls, umbrellas, &c., &c. ; the shell (or 
putamen) is of great thickness, excessively hard, bani mottled 
* with dark and light brown, and capable of taking a high degree of 
* polish." 
As far as we are aware, no detailed account of Bahia Piassava has 
been published in an accessible form. We are therefore happy to avail 
our rselves > the courtesy of Mr. W. S. Booth, Belle Vue House, 
ia. prepared from personal observation the following 
OFA accel of the present condition of the industry in Brazil for 
“ The fibre of this palm (Attalea funifera) is obtained chiefly in the 
province of Bahia, along the coast south of Valenca, where we supply 
now svae ted, to Porto Seguro, Wick will soon be in the same 
conditio 
" Tifoüghont this tract Piassava is found growing scattered in the 
woodland (Piassava do Mato), and in some places in extensive patehes, 
ealled campos, nestling in the heart of immense virgin forests. 
* Naturally, the * Piassava do Campo’ is more easily obtained than 
o Mato; 
Moreover, a certain * pratique' is required to wencois the isolated trees 
at NE sight in the dense tangle of a tropical ju 
iassava of either denomination is divided, eU a to its age, 
bo two poe viz., Bananeira and Coqueira. 
y dice aneiras, or you lants, Mosi em are not yet developed, 
and the upper part of the trun 
(2.) Baloo, formed by the older fibre which has fallen to the ground 
he base of the trun 
(3.) Men d'olho, or “eye Piassava,” which is the latest growth, 
and is in all respects similar to that yielded by the 
oes ee 
