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Show 4 PAPERMAKIN IN INDO-CHIN the «Paper Tree of Tonkin" has been the source of th mostimportantand most enduring fiber. In the languag of the Anamese this plant is called ey gid and has bee identified as Daplne involucrata, Wall., of the natura order Thymelacaceae, the same family to which belong the Japancse gampi (Wikstroemia canescens),Meisn., (Passerina gampi), Sicb. and Zuce. The well-known «Nepa Paper Plant" (Daphne cannabina) is also a species of thi family. In India the Daphne plantis termed Maha-deva a name of Skiva, one of the gods of the supreme Hind triad; in Indo-China this plant is regarded with no les reverence,-indeed throughout the Far East the Dapln holds a place of pronounced sacred significance It is the Daphne involucrata of Indo-China with whic weare concerned as thestrong fiber produced by this tre has long been the finest papermaking material availabl to the Anamese. During mysojournin Indo-Chinain th spring of 1935, the bark of this tree formed the fiber fo the superior calligraphic paper, but for papers of less im portance,bamboo and rice straw pulps were used; for th cheap ceremonial papers and for the coarse firecracke paper the workers were using the roughest sort of wast paper carted to them from Hanoi and adjacent villages According toan English publication of forty yearsag («Bulletin of the Imperial Institute," London, Septem ber 29, 1904), the single province of Hung-hao, Annam devoted 670 acres to the propagation of the Dapine fo use as a papermaking fiber; this extensive cultivation o Digital mage© 2005 Marriott Library University of Utah, All rihts reserved |