528 
PREPARATION OF PINEAPPLE FIBRES IN SINGAPORE 
FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PINA CLOTH. 
Some time ago we observed, in the neighbourhood of Batu Blyer, 
a number of Chinese labourers employed in cleaning the fibres of 
Pineapple leaves for exportation to China. As we believe this to 
be a new and promising branch of industry in this settlement, where 
numerous islets are covered by the pineapple, it would be well to 
draw the attention of the Chinese and Bugis frequenting or inhabi¬ 
ting these islets, to the subject. The process of extracting and 
bleaching the fibres is exceedingly simple. The first step is to re¬ 
move the fleshy or succulent side of the leaf. A Chinese, astride 
on a narrow stool, extends on it, in front of him, a pineapple leaf, 
one end of which is kept firm by being placed beneath a small bun¬ 
dle of cloth on wMcli he sits. He then with a kind of two handled 
plane made of bamboo removes the succulent matter. Another man 
receives the leaves as they are planed, and with his thumb nail loos¬ 
ens and gathers the fibres about the middle of the leaf, which enables 
him by one effort to detach the whole of them from the outer skin. 
The fibres are next steeped in water for some time, after which they 
are washed in order to free them from the matter that still adheres 
and binds them together. They are now laid out to dry and bleach 
on rude frames of split bamboo. The process of steeping, washing, 
and exposing to the sun is repeated for some days until the fibres 
are considered to be properly bleached. Without further prepara¬ 
tion they are sent into town for exportation to China. 
Nearly all the islands near Singapore are more or less planted 
with pineapples, which, at a rough estimate, cover an extent of two 
thousand acres. The enormous quantity of leaves that are annually 
suffered to putrify on the ground would supply fibre for a large ma¬ 
nufactory of valuable pina cloth. The fibres should be cleaned on 
the spot. Fortunately the pineapple planters are not Malays but in¬ 
dustrious and thrifty Bugis, most of whom have families. These 
men could be readily induced to prepare the fibres. Let any mer¬ 
chant offer an adeqnate price and a steady annual supply will soon 
be obtained. 
