936 JO URN A L, BOMB A Y NA TURA L HISTOR Y SOCI ETY, Vol. XL\ . 



ground on all sides, never however becoming attached to the bowl, their 

 partial elasticity affording an almost imperceptible but very necessary 

 " play " to the parent stem when struggling against the force ot* violent 

 gales. This bowl is of the same substance as the shell of the nut, onh' 

 much thio' er ; it rots very slowly, for it has been found quite perfect 

 and entire in every respect GU years after the tree has been cut down. 



The crown of the trunk, ie., the heart of the leaves is eaten like that 

 of the American Cabbage Palm (Oreodosa regia), and often preserved 

 in vinegar ; but it is less delicate and slightly bitter. The trunk itself 

 after being split and cleareil of its soft and fibrous part within, serves to 

 make water troughs, as well as palisades for surrounding houses and 

 gardens. The foliage is employed to thatch the roofs of houses and 

 sheds, and even for the walls. With a hundred leaves a commodious 

 dwelling may be constructed, including even the partitions of the 

 apartments, the dooi-s and v/indows. The down which is attached to 

 the young leaves serves for filling mattrasses and pillows. Of the ribs 

 of the leaves and fibres of the peticli they make baskets and brooms. 

 The young loliage afi^jnls an excellent jnaterial for huts : for this purpose, 

 the unexpanded leaves only are taken, dried in the sun, and cut into 

 longitud.nal strijis, 2 or 3 lines in breadth, which are then plaited. 

 Of the nut are made vessels of difi'erent forms and uses. When 

 preserved whole and perforated in one or two places the shell serves 

 to cany water. Plates, dishes, and drinking cups made of the nuts are 

 valuable from their great strength smd durability, so that this kind of 

 utensil, in the iSejchelles Islands, bears the name of " Vaiselle de 

 I'Isle Praslin," Amongst other articles, shaving dishes, black, beauti- 

 fully polished, set in silver and carved, are made from them.^ 



The marvellous medicinal properties which were ascribed to the 

 nuts by ancient physicians, both European and Asiatic, have been 

 recognized as fanciful nowadays and dependent s )lely on the rarity of 

 the fruit. It is consequently no longer valued by Europeans but it is 

 (according to Dymock) still in great repute among the Arabs and natives 

 of India as a tonic, preservative, and alexipharmic. Ainslie relates that 

 in his time the Vytians occasionally prescribed the kernel given in 

 woman's milk, in cases of typhus fever, the dose being ' a quarter of a 

 patToda weight twice daily, " and adds, ' it is also reputed antiscorbutic 



^ if IJooker, 1 c 



