MANILLA. 307 



Among the important productions of these islands, I have men- 

 tioned hemp, although the article called Manilla hemp must not be • 

 understood to be derived from the plant which produces the common 

 hemp (Cannabis), being obtained from a species of plantain (Musa 

 textilis), called in the Philippines the "abaca." This is a native 

 of these islands, and was formerly believed to be found only on 

 Mindanao ; but this is not the case, for it is cultivated on the south 

 part of Luzon, and all the islands south of it. It grows on high 

 ground, in rich soil, and is propagated by seeds. It resembles 

 the other plants of the tribe of plantains, but its fruit is much 

 smaller, although edible. The fibre is derived from the stem, and 

 the plant attains the height of fifteen or twenty feet. The usual 

 mode of preparing the hemp is to cut off the stem near the ground, 

 before the time or just when the fruit is ripe. The stem is then 

 eight or ten feet long below the leaves, where it is again cut. The 

 outer coating of the herbaceous stem is then stripped off, until the 

 fibres or cellular parts are seen, wmen it undergoes the process of 

 rotting, and after being well dried in houses and sheds, is prepared 

 for market by assorting it, a task which is performed by the women 

 and children. That which is intended for cloth is soaked for an hour 

 or two, in weak lime-water prepared from sea-shells, again dried, and 

 put up in bundles. From all the districts in which it grows, it is 

 sent to Manilla, which is the only port whence it can legally be ex- 

 ported. It arrives in large bundles, and is packed there, by means of 

 a screw-press, in compact bales, for shipping, secured by rattan, each 

 weighing two piculs. 



The best Manilla hemp ought to be white, dry, and of a long and 

 fine fibre. This is known at Manilla by the name of lupis; the second 

 quality they call bandala. 



The exportation has much increased within the last few years, in 

 consequence of the demand for it in the United States; and the 

 whole crop is now monopolized by the two American houses of 

 Sturges & Co., and T. N. Peale & Co., of Manilla, who buy all 

 of good quality that comes to market. This is divided between the 

 two houses, and the price they pay is from four to five dollars the 

 picul. The entire quantity raised in 1840 was eighty-three thousand 

 seven hundred and ninety piculs; in 1841, eighty-seven thousand. 



The quantity exported to the United States in 1840, was sixty- 

 eight thousand two hundred and eighty piculs, and in 1841, only 



