BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 27 
‘The manner of extracting toddy is as follows:—When the spadix 
is about to flower, the point is cut off and bound round tight with a 
ligature made of the strip of a branch of the Cocoa-nut tree. It is 
then beaten or bruised with the bludgeon before mentioned, twice a day, 
for a week or more; a thin slice being pared off at each time of 
beating. The spadix thus treated begins to “tear,” or emit a juice, 
which is toddy, and which is collected in a small earthen pot, tied to 
the spadix, as well as to an upper branch of the tree, for that purpose, 
(as shown in the plates, Tab. i., and at fig. 5 of Plate ii.) 
The Cocoa-nut tree toddy, when fresh drawn and unadulterated, is: 
of a pleasant sweet flavour, but when kept till it becomes acid, it is 
intoxicating: to render it more so, the fruit and leaves of the thorn- 
apple (Datura Stramonium) are bruised into the jar or pot containing 
the beverage for sale at the licensed toddy-shops ; and in that state it is 
eagerly drunk by the natives. Toddy produces Jaggary. Arrack is 
also distilled from toddy, and it makes, besides, a vinegar of tolerable 
m quality. 
* Toddy is usually extracted from the Cocoa-nut trees one half of the 
year, and they yield fruit the other half. 
The Toddymen are industrious people of the Seva sect: they eat 
animal food of all kinds, excepting beef, and drink distilled liquors. 
CHINESE “ RIcE-PAPER,” or “ Bok-SuuNo." 7 l 
Thanks to our most obliging friend, Capt. Wm. Loring, R.N., who 
has put us in communication with several intelligent gentlemen now 
resident in China, we are in a fair way of obtaining correct intelligence 
relative to many interesting scientific objects, and of having our doubts — 
solved on some important botanical matters. J. H. Layton, Esg., _ 
H. B. Majesty's Consul at Amoy, China, has most kindly sent us not 
only excellent specimens of the pith from which the so-called Rice- - 
paper is formed, but a model of the knife used in cutting it, and, what _ 
is even of more value, the following information. . 
The substance, commonly called Rice-paper by the Chinese, is made 
from the pith of a plant or tree, which grows principally in the swampy 
grounds in the province of Sam-swi, in the northern part of the island 
E 2 > 
