Investor Presentaiton
NATIONAL
GALLERY
CAYMAN ISLANDS
THATCHING (continued)
INSPIRATION...
Despite a strength which is somewhat inferior to that of sisal rope, thatch rope is more res
damage by salt water than either sisal or hemp. It was this rope that was used on all the old b
well as for roping beds, and suspending hammocks. Years ago baskets and hats were exported
Bay Islands as well as to Little Cayman and Cayman Brac, but rope-made in West Bay, North
and East End -- not used on the island was shipped to Jamaica. In 1907, 515,000 fathoms were exporte
at five pounds a hundred fathoms; in 1909, 173,000 fathoms were whipped at 15 pounds a hundred
fathoms. It was sold to local traders who in turn sold it to the government. It was then shipped in bulk
to Jamaica where it was distributed by the Jamaica Co-operative Union. The sale of rope provided the
only cash income for many families for many years. Some 300 to 400 persons were involved in rope
making during the first half of the twentieth century. Export of rope declined from 1.3 million fathoms
1964 to 127,450 fathoms in 1969 to none at all in 1970. Along with thatch sisal was woven and many
persons made tiny boxes, fans and slippers. On the Brac, people make hats as well as table mats from
the thatch palm. (Our Island Treasure, pg 14)
The palm used for plaiting is the thatch palm, a tall slender tree with silvery-green fan shaped leave
once used for making rope. The plaited baskets and hats were a secondary source for the strips
Baskets were used to carry produce and jars of water to thirsty workers. Baskets were sturdy and large
and were carried on the back with the aid of a long strap which was placed across the forehead. The
Aates of Ameris palms' buds dry a lovely sand color and each bud can be cut into three thin strands. Depending on the
thickness of the woven strips needed, the weaver uses between fifteen and twenty-three strands in about
nine varying patterns. The strips are then made into a basket or a Norwester, May 1982, pg
ings o
Thatch palms which formed the roofs of houses, also formed the base for most everyday chor
toting sand, wood and provisions. T
ing baskets and hats and for makir
for the Islands' vessels as well
In addition plaiting thatch and
making provided a liveliny people and was a seat export item. Wome
predominant in the craft of plaiting. First they collected the unopenes tops or unexpanded l
the thatch palms, and ideally these tops were collected the day before the moon was full. The t
tied into bundles and left to dry; the amount of sun or shade determined the color of th
Several weeks later individual palm fin
by the fingernail. Tops inte
used for making broom
made of bands of r
Determination
from the leaves and then torn into desLONIAL REPORTS
parated into palm fingers. Unus
ait onto fish hooks. Hats ar
g to width and number
IMPORTS.
There are literally hundreds of styles of planting, and color and style is passed on from DE, INDUSTRIES, AND AGRICULTURE.
to another. These bands are sewn together with thatch into the desired product. Two
were taught this craft as children remember, "about a dozen of us would take a
'bout twenty five feet long and go 'round by Colliers an cut a whole pile of
companions would cut "about three or four thousand leaves and return to Ea
To make thatch rope, the palm shoots were split into strips about half an inch wid
inches long. Several of these strips are twisted together, looped around the
started. As the twisting proceeds additional strips are tucked in with the c
strand diameter remains constant and enough friction present to prevent pul
the strand is about one-quarter of an inch in diameter and roughly 30 fath
back and forth between the knee and the foot as the length increased
made the laying together of the ropes was started, usually in a long cle
strands are attacked at one end to three spindles which were rotated sin
and at the other end to a single spindle. As two persons, one on each enus
opposite directions, the rope is laid in the right hand direction from the strands -
prevent knotting and to insure tightly laid rope a device is moved along just
the strands are becoming twisted together. Containing three notches, this de
the progressing lay, can spread the strands and make the lay tighter; if mo
sembly a
SATURDAY,
Set
aw has more holes than
cheese" and needs beeling up t
regulate the hedge funds themselve
most of which are based in the
Cayman Islands French
Minister Christine
France will
value of the imports during the
ve months preceding the 30th
mber amounted to
he previous your was...
Ехговта.
ed amount of the exports
was
at of 1904-05 was
£23,820
00
20,840 0 0
£15,204 9 G
11,920 14 0
The large excess of imports over the exports is accounted for
Ipllows:-
S
are about 1,500 Cayman islanders employed in the
of America, Mexico, Spanish Honduras, &c.,
lies and relatives here, and they remit a
oney to these Islands.
schooners trading between the
elsewhere.
... Chief Exports.
1904-05
1905-06.
al flow
Ed
4,158 00
1,089 18 0
1,337 10
153 00
5,657 12 0
1,543 0
586 10
577
Tickets are availa
tha Christie's Rad
Strow
na del Mar at
Turtle
Hawks-bill turtle-shell
Rope
Cattle and borses
Dried skins
Logwood
Cocoanute
Pink pearls
Conch sbells
CAYMAN ISLANDS NATIONAL ARCHIVE
-rope industry pleaze.
mind.
I do solemnly pleage my.
and hands for the production of
standard quality of straw ropes for
1
1
- promotion of trade and one common"
אום JOView entire presentation