New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-06
e S G q II t e n 3 e q n 81


Pere Camboni, a French Roman Catholic
missionary, when sent to mission in NADIA
gascar noticed with surprise the enormous spider
webs that spread networks of golden wire over the
and bushes in the gardens Of the quarters occ
pied by his fraternity 1he threads composing these
webs were strong that, remembering Bon and wha+
he had accomplished with French spiders it occurred
to HIM to try what could be done with the greatly
superior silk of the Madagascar spiders
He began by collecting the numerous webs and
with infinite patience he carded and spun them:
but the fabric from this silk though immensely
strong, was commercially of no value, account
of the irregularty of the threads Determined not to
be beaten. however he tried by every means in his
power to obviate this difficulty and last managed
to draw the silk directly from the abdomen of the
spider incosing the insects in old mach-boxes for
the purpose. 1t is precisely this principle which is
followed in the schools of Madagascar to-day and
the good father honestly claim be the inventor
of the system.
The French have taken the subject seriously and
professional schools have been founded for the scien-
tlhc propagation and the cultivation of the spiders
and for the instruction of the natives in winding
spinning and weaving the silk These schools are
due the initiative of General Gaieni and are the
most useful works instituted by that energetic officer
supplying as they do immediate employment for
the natives, well forming a nucleus of an
industry whose end in this age of progress it is i'm
possible to fOresee. The spider which the natives
call Halabe,' belongs to the NePhiIa genus OF
large spiders found in tropical and semi tropical
countries and noted principally for the size and
strength of the webs thew spin CAPTURED in the
mango groves and brought to the school in large
square baskets, they require immediate attention
the opening of the baskets sad relate will reveal
in each a striking and undeniable instance II the
survival of the httest - in perhaps on solitary
survivor who has up all its fellow prisoners
Not only does my lady feed upon her companions
but when occasion offers has hesitation in devour-
ing her husband Indeed he is insignificant half
starved, dingv-looking mite tan a tenth
the size of lis mate whom - and worships
When united to the ST. choice having inconti-
nen.ly eaten al Unsuccessful sutOrs Madame
Halab6 hegir- &c COX her for some loo alitv
where p1 isions for herself and her coming brood
likely to be found close at hand. Many of the
spiders discover these in the immense mango groves of
the ROYAL Gardens at Tananarivo the Capital of
Madagascar and here the be found in
great numbers
As they taken from the baskets they
placed in a divided into pigeonholes or
square cells like those in which letters placed in
country postoiices. spider placed III each cell
with the abdomen projecting that side of the cell from
which the silk is to be drawn. The body is caught
and secured by fiat piece of wood in which a half
moon-shaped notch is This piece slides
up and down the back of the cell and
is adjusted catch the spider just in front
of the abdomen and hold it motioness The
legs brought for