128 FOREST PRODUCTS. 



intoxicating " bhang " it produces, and which is largely 

 smoked by Mahomedans. 



Careya Arborea, furnishes an excellent fibre, used by 

 natives principally in house-building, &c. 



Caryota urens. This palm yields an exceedingly valuable 

 fibre which is extensively used in Malabar for fishing-lines. 

 Surrounding the base of the petioles of the leaves, there 

 is a mass of coarse wire-like fibre, varying in thickness 

 from the size of horse-hair to that of a knitting needle. 

 This fibre is used in Malabar for elephant ropes, &c., but is 

 valued at home for the manufacture of brushes, and is 

 known to the trade by the name of Kittal fibre. From the 

 petioles of the leaves, however, a strong yellowish fibre is 

 drawn, which when knotted together makes excellent fish- 

 ing-lines. This fibre is sometimes boiled in milk which 

 makes it last longer the native fishermen say. It is brittle 

 when dry ; but very strong when wet and pliable. Unfor- 

 tunately the cabbage of this palm is edible, and it is 

 exterminated both by natives and wild elephants, wherever 

 found in the forests. Were it not for this, the forests of 

 Malabar would abound with millions of these very valuable 

 palms. In addition to the fibre, and cabbage produced by 

 them, the older palms contain starch from which sago is 

 manufactured in Malabar ; but it is of poor quality. The 

 flower spathes are cut and yield large quantities of the best 

 toddy. This palm deserves special protection. 



Corypha umbraculifera. The leaves of this handsome 

 palm are used for an infinite variety of purposes, for thatch- 

 ing houses, umbrellas, the covers of bullock coaches, &c., &c. 

 Cyperus Corymbosus. The very handsome Palghat mats 

 are made from this cyperus which grows wild on the 

 banks of streams. 



Eriodendron unfriictuosum. The bark yields a fibre, 

 which might be used for paper stock. The silky down 

 surrounding the seeds is used for stuffing pillows. 



Ficus Species. Tho bark of the trunk and especially of 

 the aerial roots of all figs yield fibre, more or less strong 



