FOREST PRODUCTS. 125 



Mcsua, Canarium, Callophyllum, Artocarpus and other trees. 

 It resembles cobbler's wax in appearance. The amount 

 obtainable from each hive is very small, half a pound or so. 

 An allied species in Burmah (Trigona loeviceps) produces a 

 .similar substance which the Burmese use for caulking 

 boats. The only use to which I have seen the wax of the 

 Indian. Trigona put, is in waterproofing the powder pan of 

 matchlocks, and for the mouth pieces of Indian Bag-pipes 

 which are made with too reeds and a gourd. 



Silk. There are numerous species of silk-producing 

 moths in the Wynaad, and Malabar, the principal of which 

 are the Tassa moth (AntJiercea paphia). The Atlas moth 

 (Attacus atlas) and the sociable silk moth (Cricula Trifene- 

 strata). 



EDIBLE BOOTS, &c. 



Dioscorea Sp> All the Dioscoreas produce edible roots, 

 some are cultivated, and others grow wild, and form the 

 chief support of aboriginal tribes in the dry weather and 

 times of scarcity. These roots are the chief mainstay of 

 Coorumbers and others, and without them they would be 

 wretched indeed. The women and children are sent oufc 

 daily to search for, and dig up the long tuberous roots which 

 often descend into the earth, to a depth of six or seven 

 feet. It is a work of great labour to the poor women to 

 excavate the holes in the baked and hardened soil to this 

 depth. The roots when cooked in the ashes are mealy, and 

 well-flavoured, and must contain a great deal of nourish- 

 ment. 



On the higher slopes of the Western Ghats, an edible 

 orchis occurs the " salep" of the shops, which is used 

 medicinally, and is iu great repute amongst Mahomedan 

 Doctors. 



Curcuma Angustifolia yields arrowroots in large 

 quantities which is manufactured to a considerable extent in. 

 Malabar. Other species of Curcuma also produce arrowroot. 

 Most of the species are abundant in the forests of Malabar. 



