i6o 
2.  Prices  of  different  vareties  see  above. 
The  values  given  represent  an  average  of  the  last  two  years: 
j.  Fluctuations  in  price  duriiiff  the  last  five  year s : ' 
We  saw  very  high  prices  in  1900  especially  for  better  grades 
from  Cotie  (Borneo),  the  drop  in  Exchange  during  the  last  years 
and  as  a consequence  the  low  value  of  the  Straits  Dollars  as  com- 
pared with  Dutch  guilders  has  the  effect  that  prices  generally  went 
up  and  just  at  present  we  may  say  that  owing  to  a more  limited 
demand  for  the  United  States  of  America  and  for  Europe  the  quota- 
tions for  Rattans  have  given  way,  although  not  at  all  to  the  same 
extent  as  prices  went  up  some  two  or  three  years  ago. 
//.  Is  the  supply  diminishing  ? 
No,  not  at  all,  supplies  are  heavy  and  have  been  heavy  all  the 
years,  at  any  rate  we  cannot  say  that  the  article  on  the  whole  has 
lost  any  ground  whatever. 
5.  Destination. — By  far  the  most  of  all  Singapore  Rattans  are 
exported  to  the  Continent,  Hamburg  and  Bremen  are  the  principal 
places  for  the  export,  besides  Havre,  Amsterdam,  Marseilles  and 
Genoa.  The  United  Kingdom  too  is  one  of  the  importers  of  Rattans, 
Liverpool  and  London  being  the  centres  for  this  trade.  The  United 
vStates  of  America  do  also  an  important  Rattan  business,  mostly 
in  the  very  best  grades  obtainable.  The  United  States  factories  buy 
these  Rattans  in  nearly  always  prepared  qualities  (washed,  smoked, 
measured)  while  Europe  receives  by  far  the  bulk  of  the  imported 
rattans  in  original  quality. 
6.  Uses. — Manufacturers  use  rattans  for  making  whips,  baskets, 
chairs,  corsets,  mats,  mattresses,  bentwood  furniture,  fancy  rattans 
furniture. 
The  better  the  colour  of  any  rattans,  the  better  the  quality  and 
more  expensive  is  the  Cane.  Hard  material  is  wanted  with  a good 
rattan  and  the  length  is  worth  a good  deal.  'Fhinner  grades  are 
all  round  better  paid  than  thicker  ones.  A yellowish  looking  rat- 
tan with  a medium  measurement  and  good  length  and  strength  is 
always  sure  to  fetch  good  prices. 
Rattan  Export  1897  1902. 
United  Kingdom. 
United  States.  | 
Continent. 
Total. 
Weights  in 
piculs  of  133J 
lbs.  a.d. 
1897 
56,264 
36,454 
248,873 
361,59* 
1898 
61,002 
203,478 
296,062 
1899 
61,089 
1 46,225 
217,124 
324,438 
1900 
73,303 
! 100,938 
231,525 
405,766 
1 90 1 
46,332 
101,969 
>90,355 
338,656 
1902 
41,274 
69,752 
170,939 
281,965 
Total 
i 2,008,478 
Behn  Meyer  & Co., 
A.  JAHNS, 
Rattan  Depart  mail . ■ 
.Singapore,  28.  5.  o j. 
