Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-05-12
yflistellameons &eadiug.
PANAMA HATS.

Now that the Summer season is near, it
may not be uninteresting to the reader to
learn something about the origin and manu-.
facture of Panama hats. This is given by
Dr.. Seeman, in an interesting article on the
"Vegetation of the Isthmus of Panama" in
the Journal Of Botdny. An ingenious pro-
duction, he So Us, deserving of especial notice,
is the "Jipijapa" (Carludouica palmata, r.
and p, palm like plant, of whose unex-
panded leaves the far famed Panama hats
are plated. This species of Carludovica is
distinguished from all others by being terres'
trial, never climbing, and bearing fan shaped
leaves. The leaves are from six to fourteen
feet high and their lamiua about four feet
across. The spathe appears towards the end
of the dry season, in February and March.
In the Isthmus the plant is called "Portori.
co." and also "Jipijapa," but the latter ap
pellation is the more common, and is dlHused
all along the coast as far as Peru and Chill
while in Ecuador whole district derives its
name from it. The plant is common in Pan.
anna and Darien, especially in half shady
places, but its geographical range is by no
means confined to them. 1t is found all
along the western shores Of New Granada and
Ecuador; and has been found even at Salan'
90, where, however, it seems to reach its most
southern limit, thus extending over twelve
degrees of latitude from north to south. The
Jipijapa, or Panama hats, are principally man
ufactured in Veraquas and western Panama
Not all, however, known in commerce by that
name are plated in the Isthmus by far the
greater proportion being made in the Monte
Christi, Manta, and other parts of Ecuador
The hats are worn almost in the whole Amer
lean continent and the West 1ndies and
would probably be equally used in Europe
did not their high price (varyiDg from 81
to $500 prevent their importation. They
are distinguished from all others by consist
ing only Of single piece, and by their light
ness and fexibility. They may be rolled uF
and put in the pocket without injury. In
the rainy season they are apt to black, but
by washing with soap and water, besmear
ing them with lime juice, or any other acid
and exposing them to the sun, their white
ness is easily restored.
So little is known about these hats that ii
may not be out of place to give an account Of
their manufacture The STRAW" (pajs), pre-
vious to plating, has to undergo several pro-
cesses. The leaves are gathered before they
unfold, all their rich and coarser veins re-
moved, and the rest, without being separated
from the base of the leaf, is reduced to shreds
After having been exposed to the sun for a
day, and tied into knot the straw is in
mersed in boiling water until it becomes white
Is is then hung up in shady place, and sub
sequently bleached for two or three days
The straw is now ready for use, and in this
state sent to different places, especially tc
Peru, where the Indians manufacture from il
those beautiful cigar cases which sometimes
bring as high as thirty dollars each. The
plating of the hats is very troublesome Il
commences at the crown and finishes at tht
brm. The hats are made on a block, which
is placed upon the knees, and requires to b.
constantly pressed with the breast. Accord
ing to their quality more or less time is occu
pied in their completiou-the coarser one
may be finished in two or three days, whil
the finest may take as many months. 'Th'
best times for plating are the morning hour
and the rainy season, when the air is moist
In the middle of the day and in dry, clea
weather, the straw is apt to break, and this
when the hat is finished, is betrayed b.
knots, and much diminshes the value.-Sc'
| entifc american