108 



Vernac. name. — Bolo-bolo (Lagos, Moloney, Millson). Agbourin 

 Ilasa (Yoruba, Moloney, Millson, Hiaginsori) ; Napunti (Sierra 

 Leone, Bull. [mp. Inst. 1908, p. 132). 



Lagos ; Yoruba ; Old Calabar ; Cross River ; Benin ; Nupe ; 

 Bassa. Not recorded from any locality outside West Africa. 



This is a valuable indigenous fibre plant. It was brought under 

 notice perhaps for the first time by Mr. Alvan Millson, Com- 

 missioner of the Western District of Lagos, who sent in November, 

 18.S8, herbarium specimens, and a sample of the fibre to the Royal 

 Botanic Gardens, Kew. The correspondence on the subject is 

 given in the Kew Bulletin for 1889, p. 16. At that time Messrs. 

 Ide & Christie considered there was a very wide field open to it 

 commercially if it were capable of being produced in large 

 quantities. Its market value would be regulated by that of jute, 

 over which it would always command a higher price, and according 

 to the prices then (December, 1888) ruling for jute, the bolo-bolo 

 was valued at £16 per ton, with a possible advance to £20. In 

 1898 samples, prepared at the Botanic Station, Old Calabar, 

 were valued by brokers in London at £26 per ton in bales ; 

 prices of all hemps, it was stated were then high, owing to 

 shortage and speculation in Manila hemp. A report, from a 

 manufacturer who described the fibre as jute, placed the value at 

 £12 per ton (Report Bot. Garden, Old Calabar, 1898-99, and Bot. 

 Enter, in W. Afr. 1889-1901, p. 171). 



In 1907, on a sample from Sierra Leone, the valuation was £20 

 per ton ; the fibre was described as jute -like, and said to be nearly 

 as rich in cellulose as extra quality Indian jute. An analysis 

 made at the Imperial Institute showed the following composition : 

 moisture, 9*6 per cent.; ash 0*32 per cent.; loss on hydrolysis 

 (a) 6*0 per cent. ; loss on hydrolysis (b) 9*7 per cent. ; acid 

 purification, 0*4 per cent ; cellulose, 78*3 per cent. ; length of 

 ultimate fibres, 2*0 mm. to 3'6 mm. The sample examined 

 consisted of uncombed bast ribbons varving in length from 4 

 to 10 feet (Sierra Leone Gaz. February 9th, 1907, p. 64). The 

 bast ribbons have been found suitable as a papermaking 

 material, but the use for this purpose is considered prohibitive 

 on account of the cost of production. It has been estimated 

 that the ribbons cost about \d. per lb. to produce, and give 

 about half their weight of " half stuff," the most advisable form 

 for shipping, valued at £7 to £8 per ton (Bull. Imp. Inst. 1908, 

 p. 134). Strips of the bark are commonly used by the natives for 

 rope or " tie-tie." 



Under cultivation the plant may be propagated by seeds or by 

 division of the roots, and requires a rich well-drained soil. The 

 preparation of the fibre is the same as for jute (q.v.) ; the stems 

 are best cut before the flowering is complete. In addition to its 

 value as a fibre plant bolo-bolo is distinctly ornamental. 



Re/.— "Fibre from Lagos," in Kew Bull. 1889, pp. 15-16. 

 Reprinted in Add. Series II. pp. 30-31. — Sierra Leone Royal 

 Gazette, February 9th. 1907, pp 64-65.—" Jute and Jute Sub- 

 stitutes from W. Africa," in Bull. Imp. Inst. 1908, Honcksnya 

 ftcifolia, pp. 132-134. 



