102 THE PALMS OF ASIA. 



forms a cool and inexpressibly grateful beverage 

 to him who (as Darwin says) can sit beneath 

 the broad shadow of the palm, and quench his 

 thirst with its delightful produce. This same 

 juice, when fermentation has taken place, Avhich 

 naturally occurs in those torrid climes in a few 

 hours, yields by distillation a spirituous li([uor 

 termed " arrack," and which, from its cheapness 

 and the ease with which it is obtained, is one 

 of the most seducing and pernicious of intoxi- 

 cating liquors, and is the ruin of European 

 soldiers in India. The fermented toddy is 

 frequently distilled on the same day that it is 

 drawn, but sometimes the operation is delayed 

 till it has become sour. The process of distil- 

 lation is carried on in the maritime provinces 

 in copper stills, but in the interior of the island 

 earthen vessels are chiefly employed. Toddy 

 yields by distillation one-eighth part of proof 

 spirit. Ceylon exports annually from 750,000 

 to 000,000 gallons of arrack, chiefly to the 

 presidencies of Bengal, IMadras, and Bombay, 

 at the value of eightpence to tcnpence per 

 gallon. What a mournful and di'praved feature 

 is it in our fallen nature, to turn blessings 

 into curses — to pervert those gifts of God which 

 are designed for the good of man into means of 

 bringing disease, misery, and death upon him ! 



