No. 12.— 1860-1.] BADULLA AND ITS PRODUCTS. 411 



the concave side of the rib towards the operator, and using 

 the same process as that I have already mentioned. 



Another method is to scrape the leaf between two sharp 

 pieces of bamboo placed one above the. other, leaving a narrow 

 interestice between them, through which the apex or narrow 

 point of the leaf is drawn out. By this method of extracting 

 the fibre the following results are obtained. One of the 

 leaves yields 100 grains of clean fibre, and 70 grains of tow. 

 Half a cwt. of leaves yields f lb. of fibre ; cost of collecting 

 leaves 7%d., cleaning 7Jd. ; f lb. of fibre costs 15<i, 1 cwt. costs 

 £9 6s. Sd. 250 leaves on an average weigh 20 lbs., and 500 

 yield ^ lb. fibre and J- lb. tow ; J cwt. contains 641 leaves. 

 It may be stated generally, that 1 cwt, of leaves yields 

 lh lb. of fibre ; 75 lbs. of leaves can be cleaned by one man in 

 a clay, yielding 1 lb. of fibre and \ lb. of tow ; 1 lb. of leaves 

 could be cleaned in 10 minutes. 



By maceration, 1 lb. of leaves macerated for five days 

 yielded 225 grains of fibre ; 1 cwt. yielded 4 lbs. 4 oz. of fibre 



The plant grows near Badulla at Ridipana. Donhindayi, 

 Boliyadda, and at Pisce, where it is found in perfection. 



From the above it is scarcely necessary to remark, that the 

 extoe tion of fibre by hand labour can never be made remu- 

 nerative. 



Horse-hair-like fibre of the Kitul or Jaggery Palm. — 

 Very strong black fibre, like horse-hair, about 3 feet long. 

 It is well adapted for making brushes, and for other purposes, 

 for which horse-hair and bristle are used. I forwarded a 

 brush made of this fibre to the Society in 1853 ; and I 

 believe this first drew the attention of the merchants at 

 Colombo to the subject, the brush having been shewn by 

 Dr. Lamprey to one of them. Large quantities are now 

 exported to England. 



It is found in great abundance in Medikinda as high up 

 as Haputale. Owing to strong winds which prevail in 



