( 2 ) 
The following figures for the year 1915 are of 
interest and show the principal countries of origin 
of the chief hard fibres: — 
Tons. 
Philippines 
Java 
Mexico 
Cuba 
Java 
Bahamas 
Manila Hemp or Abaca 
( Musa textilis) 140,000 
Manila Hemp . . 600 
Henequen ( Agave 
fourcroydes) 135,000 
„ ( Agave 
fourcroydes) 3,000 
Sisal ( Agave rigida 
var. cantula ) 6,500 
„ (Agave rigida 
var. sisalana) 4,300 
B. E. Africa „ ( Agave rigida 
var. sisalana ) 
Hawaii „ ( Agave rigida 
var. sisalana ) 
Portuguese E. Africa „ (Agave rigida 
var. sisalana) 
New Zealand New Zealand Hemp 
(Phormium tenox) 
3,750 
1,000 
600 
23,225 
Total . . 317,975 
In 1913 German East Africa exported 20,000 tons 
of Sisal hemp. 
In Mauritius and a few other countries, Mauritius 
hemp (Furcraea gigantea) is cultivated on a small 
scale, but is said to be less suitable than Sisal, also 
the percentage of fibre in the leaves is lower than 
in the case of Sisal. 
