COCOA-NUT TREE. 323 



naturally, have a beautiful milk-white appear- 

 ance. The Tahitans call the flower Tiari, a 

 name applied generally to all flowers ; , and the 

 spathe is denominated Pa tiari ; Pa signifying 

 a shell or any thing hard, sometimes applied to 

 the shell of the cocoa-nut ; and the spathe is 

 thus considered the shell of the flowers. The 

 first appearance of these flowers on a tree of 

 moderate elevation (when they are well seen) 

 has an elegant effect — the cluster erect, droop- 

 ing, and delicately white. The taste of the 

 flowers is most powerfully astringent, and in 

 Ceylon is used medicinally in various debilitating 

 diseases, more particularly that distressing ma- 

 lady in tropical climates — gonorrhoea. The 

 mode in which it is administered is the ex- 

 pressed juice of the flower mixed with new milk, 

 and taken in small quantities not exceeding 

 a wine-glass full, but at regular periods, affords 

 almost immediate temporary relief, and, if per- 

 severed in, effectual cure. It is from these flower 

 spathes, before the flowers have yet expanded, that 

 the delicious beverage, known to Europeans as 

 toddy or palm-wine is made;* it is called by the 

 Singalese Ra, and the Hindoo Portuguese Soura, 

 but is unknown to the natives of Polynesia, 



* The palm vine of Africa is procured in a similar manner, 

 but I believe from other species of palms. 



Y 2 



