THE PALMS OF EUROPE AND AFRICA. 53 



baskets, bags, mats, bruslies, and fly traps are 

 manufactured ; and boats constructed solely of 

 this material are used on the Tigris ; while 

 the threads of the web-like integument at their 

 base are twisted into ropes, which are employed' 

 in rigging small vessels. The trunk is split, 

 and used in small buildings, also for fences to 

 gardens, and for rafters ; and the stalks of the 

 leaves are made into cages for poultry. The 

 sap is said to be obtained by cutting off the 

 head of the palm, and scooping out a hollow in 

 the top of the stem, where, in ascending, it 

 lodges itself. Three or four quarts of sap may 

 be obtained daily from a single palm for ten 

 days or a fortnight, after Avhich the quantity 

 lessens, until at the end of six weeks or two 

 months, the stem is exhausted, becomes dry, 

 and is used for firewood. This liquor is 

 sweetish Avhen first collected, and may be drunk 

 as a mild beverage ; but fermentation soon takes 

 j)lace, and a spirit is produced, which is some- 

 times distilled, and then forms one of the 

 kinds of arrack of eastern countries. This palm 

 wine, as the unfermented sap is termed, is 

 believed to be the liquor alluded to in various 

 places in Scripture, under the name "strong 

 drink." Thus in Isaiah xxiv. 9, bishop Lowth 

 translates the passage : — 



