4 
portion of the tree, though hitherto treated as useless, is in reality of 
more value than all the rest. 
When the “ Bamboo” cutter clears away the leaves from the lower 
stem of the palms the trees present a very ragged and uneven appearance, 
owing to the practice of leaving a portion of the leaf-stalk adhering to 
the parent stem. These base-stalks partially encase the bole of the tree 
and project upward and outwards, forming the scaly covering which 
gives so strange an appearance to a grove of Парма palms. From 
these stumps of the leaf-stalks the native fishing lines are made. The 
fibre is extracted by a process of soaking and scraping, which is exceed- 
ingly simple and is fully understood by every bamboo cutter and line 
maker. It is this fibre which is known in the European market as 
on even terms with the sources of supply which at present monopolise 
e . 
the market 
ж * * * 
In the Yoruba language the Raphia vinifera is known as 191-одито, 
Eriko and Akpako ass fibre as Гуо, and the fishing line /yo-oguro 
г Гуо-адбе. 
the natives use this fibre for fishing lines, and as twine and rope. 
Messrs. Тов AND CHRISTIE іо ROYAL GARDENS, Kew. 
72, Mark Lane, London, E.C., 
Dear SIR, October 10, 1890. i 
We duly received your letter of 8th instant, and to-day brings 
us the sample of fibrous material found at the base of the leaves of the 
mboo ” palm of West Africa (Raphia vinifera). | 25 
_ We have seen this material before, and the small importations that 
made (some years ago) were not at all well received by consumers, 
who found that the expense of cleaning and the ultimate result were 
most unsatisfactory when compared with the price and results of South 
American Piassava. 
During the past year or two, however, the market values of the latter 
have undergone a great change, Bahia Piassava having largely risen in 
producers’ 
.` 
price. We think, therefore, that it might be well worthy of 
specimens herewith, and clean them effectively from all the adherent 
small fibre. Only the strong healthy fibres should be selected and pre- 
pared, and the various lengths should be bundled separately. 
The material being somewhat of a novelty, it might be well for 
shippers to confine their first shipment to, say, 10 to 20 tons, so as to 
try the market adequately. If properly selected and cleaned we estimate 
that it would sell at 25/. per ton to-day in London, a figure that, in our 
opinion, should leave a handsome profit to the producer. 
ours, &с. 
(Signed) Тре AND CHRISTIE. 
D. Morris, Esq., M.A., F.L.S. 
