129 
CCXLVI.—SANSEVIERIA FIBRE FROM SOMALI-LAND. 
(Sansevieria Ehrhenbergii, Schwein.) 
The increased attention devoted to the production of white rope fibres 
in the Western tropies appears to have hada stimulating effect also in 
the East Indies. The production of fibre from Agave vivipara in 
Bombay and Manila is now followed by a fibre obtained from Somali- 
land from a singular species of Sansevieria. Cite c: was first 
received in this country as an * Aloe" fib It was soon noticed, how- 
ever, that it possessed characteristics differing from all didina «t Aloa ” 
bre, and an inquiry made by this establishment through the Foreign 
Office has shown tbat it is-one of the many so-called Bow-stri ps, 
and probably yielded by Banveotirsa Ehrhenbergii, a plant: first 
collected by Dr. Schweinfurth, and of which little or nothing was 
known until it was described by Mr. J. G r, ,in Journal 
the Linnean Society, xiv. p. 549. Its locality is there stated as 
*between Athara and the Red Sea." tails in regard to its 
a as a fibre plant are contained in the following correspon- 
dence 
ROYAL GARDENS, Kew, ro FOREIGN Ortice: 
Royal Gardens, Kew, March 29, 1 1892. 
I am directed by Mr. Thiselton-Dyer to acknowledge the receipt 
of a copy of a Report on the Aloe Fibre of Somali-land, [Foreign 
Office Miscellaneous a No. 225, 1892,] communi icated. to this 
establishment, 
2. 'This Report is of an intencnting anys It would be dourable 
to obtain a small sample of the fibre for the Mussums of Economic 
Botany at Kew 
It would be useful also to obtain a large leaf from the plant pes 
the fibre and, if possible, a few small plants for growing in the 
collection 
The leaf and young plants would travel very well in a dry box 
without any packing. and provided with holes in the sides for 
ventilation. 
. Thiselton-Dyer trusts that the georotary 9: State will approve 
of the kind offices of Lieutenant-Colonel Stace being in invited t 
the specimens mentioned, and I am to add that this Pera eaa 
be prepared to pay any reasonable ae that may be incurred. 
ave, &e. 
(Signed) ` D. Morris, 
Sir A imo K.C.M.G., Assistant Director. 
n Office. 
Sir E. Barne to the Marquis or SALISBURY. 
My Lorp, Cairo, February 17, 1892. 
I wave the honour to forward herewith to your Lordship a. 
Report by Tamia Colonel E. V. Stace, Her Mojesty's Consul at 
Aden, regarding the Aloe Fibre of the Somali Coast Protectorate. 
ave, &c. 
(Signed) ^ E. BARING. 
B2 
