DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 



155 



JGjoo or Eju (Malay). See Arenga. 



Elaeis guineensis. Oil Palm. 



Endogen. Palmes. Palm, 20 to 30 feet. 



This genus includes the oil palm of west Africa, which has been introduced into 

 the West Indies, and several mostly South American and West Indian species. 



Structural Fiber. — This is obtained from the inner leaflets of the plant, and is 

 described as being almost as fine and tenacious as human hair. It is extensively 

 used by the natives for fishing lines and other purposes where great strength is 

 required. 



In the preparation of this fiber a considerable amount of skill is shown. The 

 pinnae of the young leaves which have not been hardened by exposure are the only 

 ones that can be made use 

 of. If too old, the fiber can 

 not be separated from the 

 tissue, and if gathered 

 before the leaves have 

 opened it has not sufficient 

 strength to stand the rough 

 handling which it has to 

 undergo while in process of 

 manufacture. If gathered 

 at the right age the strip- 

 ping of the fiber offers no 

 difficulties, although the 

 process is both tedious and 

 wasteful. So far as can be 

 ascertained, the only use 

 to which this fiber is put 

 is the making of fishing 

 lines and fine cords. It 

 would appear to be too 

 costly for native cloth, net, 

 or bag making. The fol- 

 lowing results of actual 

 experiments will serve to 

 show the tedious and ex- 

 pensive nature of the pro- 

 cess which has just been 

 described: A day's hard 

 work is counted well spent 

 on the production of 6 

 ounces of fiber from 36 

 I>ounds of the raw mater- 

 ial. Estimating the value 

 of labor to the native at not more than 3d. a day, and leaving out of consideration 

 the time expended in collecting and sorting the leaves in the forest, the actual cost 

 of this material to the producer can not be calculated at less than £75 a ton. It is 

 therefore clear that it would be impossible to develop an export trade in this article 

 at the present rate of European prices. (Kew Bull., March, 1892.) 



Spon mentions the species and says of the fiber that "it has not received the 

 attention it seems to merit. The filaments are fine, clean, and regular, like bundles 

 of horsehair; and are supple and very strong. 7 ' E. melanococca, the " Corozo," is 

 named in Dr. Ernst's list of Venezuelan fiber palms. 



Ela-wewel (Ceyl.). See Calamus rotang. 



Fig. 50. — The oil palm, Elms guineensis. 



