89 
woven into superior matting, tastefully coloured, and used instead of 
tapestry for covering walls in London houses. The loose strips of Rafia 
are in demand in this country and elsewhere in place of Russian or Cuban 
bast as tie-bands by gardeners and nurserymen. For the latter purpose 
the strips are usually loosely plaited in hanks 1} to 3 pounds in weight, 
made up into bales weighing ll to 5} cwt. -Each strip is a w 
coloured flat band about 4 feet ong, and about j to 3 inch wide, but 
capable of — division into fine threads. 
Owing to the French expedition to Madagascar, Rafia has eee 
shown an advan in price. It was sold recently at 45s. per c 
Apart from this, 9 there is apparently a steady demand and a 
«d 
Ed 
ia Ruffia is clos ical 
Africa. If the supply of Rafia from Madagascar were greatly reduced 
or cut off, it is very probable that within a short time it woul 
possible to obtain an almost identical article from West Africa. One 
of — on notices of a Rafia from this part of Africa is contained in the 
Rep y Mr. C. F. Cross, F.1.C., on the War opt Fibres shown at 
sin Colonial and Indian Exhibition 1886. Mr. Cross mentioned that this 
Was so closely similar to Rafia “as to be — to piai the same 
uses.” The following particulars were given : 
“ Grass (epidermal strips of Raphia vinifera). Exhibited by Mr. A. 
Sibthorpe in the Sierra Leone Section, with specimens of straw plait 
illustrating its more aiil application by the natives. This specimen 
also proved itself on analysis to be worth the attention of paper makers. 
The following determinations were made :— 
Moisture - - werte 9:8 per cent. — $n 
aua 2 ? 5 : . Lr "s um : P ain vf 3 y 
Cellulose pene aruis SOTO- y 
Ultimate fibres. Length - - T'S to 2°5 mm. 
n 
* [ have received from Messrs. Joynson satisfactory reports upon the 
papers made from the Rafia strips exhibited in the West African Section. 
were treated by the (basic) sulphite process, and bleached to a 
olour. The paper was reported to be of ey strength,” 
[ Colonial and Indian Exhibition Reports, pp. 379, 385.] 
Small shipments cf West African Rafia hav e already been made to 
this country. It was, however, badly prepared, dd the results were not 
satisfactory. The strips were too short, and they reached their destina- 
tion curled up so as to resemble very fine twine. It is necessary the 
strips should be Ll strong, of good length, and dried perfectly flat. 
Some of the | r Rafia is about 34 to 4 ft. long. Very 
exceptionally it is y ft. long. This ios that the long leaflets in the 
