34 NOTES ON THE PALM “ CARYOTA URENS;” 
economical waterpipe. The wood is used for rafters, but, 
notwithstanding its hardness, is said not to be durable. 
The rootwood is hollowed into buckets. 
The spathes of the tree yield a palm wine, very pleasant 
to the palate; and, in the hot season, a single tree will 
yield ten or twelve gallons in 24 hours. This is used in 
various ways, either in its fresh state or fermented, and 
then as an intoxicant or as yeast for making bread. It is 
also converted into a spirit, and into jaggery sugar. 
The inside pith is full of farina; and, yielding a good 
sago, is largely used as food. The natives convert this farina 
into bread and boil it into a thick gruel. These articles form 
a great part of the food of the people where the tree is 
plentiful; and in times of famine have proved invaluable while 
the supply lasted. Roxburgh, speaking of the farina, says— 
“I have reason to believe this substance to be highly 
nutritious; I have eaten the gruel and think it fully as 
palatable as that made from the sago of the Malay 
countries.” 
From the leaves, which grow 18 to 20 feet in length, is 
made a fibre which constitutes the great value of the tree. 
This is known generally in commerce as “ Kittool” fibre. 
In Ceylon a rope of such strength is made from it that it is 
used for tying wild elephants; from which use it is also 
known as “elephant”? fibre. 
Mr. Arthur Ramsbottom, an authority on brush-making, 
considers ‘‘ Kittool” fibre as the best substitute yet dis- 
covered for bristles, but open to the odd objection, in which 
none but brushmakers are likely to sympathise, that it is 
too durable. In the interests of trade it would never do to 
make an article which was practically indestructible, for 
this reason the workers for a long time resisted its intro- 
duction ; but its many excellent qualities have led to its use 
rapidly spreading. It arrives in the crude state in long 
hanks or bundles, and is of a dingy black or brownish colour; 
by steeping it in oil, the fibre is at the same time 
strengthened and made more flexible, and of a brighter 
colour. By a steady strain at both ends it can be extended 
nearly fifty per cent. For brooms it is a soft material, 
being as good as hair and much more durable. Itisalso . 
stated that it possesses the further advantage that it can be 
