THE PALMS OF ASU. 81 



brooms, pins, toothpicks, and torches ; other 

 portions of the leaves form pens, and the sharp 

 arrows which are blown from tubes by the 

 Indians. Bristles of different kinds used as 

 needles, and as a substitute for hair in brooms, 

 are derived from the leaf-stalks. From the 

 sap, collected about the time of flowering, a 

 kind of palm wine is prepared, from which, 

 ^vhen further fermented, an ardent spirit is 

 distilled. The farina contained in the cellular 

 portion of the stem is a good suVjstitute for sago ; 

 and a coarse dark-coloured sugar, called jag- 

 ghery, is obtained by evaporating the fresh sap. 

 This jagghery, mixed with lime, forms a power- 

 ful cement, which resists moisture, endures 

 great solar heat, and is used by the natives of 

 Ceylon for the same purposes that -we employ 

 stucco. In this condition it is applied as floor- 

 ias, and for the coating of columns ; and as it 

 will take a fine polish, it is often made to 

 imitate marble. The juice of the flowers is of 

 so astringent a nature, that it has the same effect 

 as a solution of alum upon the inside of the 

 mouth. Mixed with new milk, and taken in 

 small quantities, it is employed as a medicine. 



The liquor of the green cocoa nut is a deli- 

 cious drink if it be plucked before sun-rise. 

 The fresh ripe fruit is a wholesome food ; its 



