Thanks JP, I'll have a look at that page.

I bought the strand from Picards so I suppose, due to the fact
that you reference them, that I shouldn't question their authenticity.

But I wondered, after buying them, why would Bohemian beads be strung
on raffia which comes from the palms grown in Africa and that African beads are strung on.

The page you referenced seems to address that.

Again, thank you so much for your input!

Mary