ii MATS. 
by the fineness of the straw and skill in plait- 
ing. Lace bark is used for trimming many of 
them. 
Only young unopened leaves of the “ broom 
thatch” (PL III. 33) are gathered in prepar- 
ing the straw for these hats as the older ones 
will not give the white straw so much desired. 
The leaves are torn into strips and boiled for 
about half an hour and are, after exposure to 
sun and dew for three days and three nights, 
ready for plaiting. It has, however, to be 
dampened to make it pliable, just before 
plaiting. About ten leaves will give sufficient 
straw for one hat. 
Palmetto and other Thatches. These 
straws are largely used for hats. The broad 
“ wha-fe-do” hats (PI. II. 1) so commonly 
worn by the peasantry, especially the women, 
are made from the palmetto straw ; so are those 
large hats, of some four feet in diameter, re- 
commended for preserving the complexion — 
and concealing the wearer ! 
To give some variety in these classes of hats 
different kinds of plaits are introduced. The 
most important plaits are locally known as 
“ shell,” ■“ gimp” (?), and “ wha-fe-do” (what’s 
to be done). 
The dark brown banana bark is now being 
used to some extent for hats. 
So also is our common wire grass, the 
small round blades being twisted in lengths 
and sown together. 
