114 ' THE PALMS OF ASIA. 



from being so light and portable, tlioy are 

 admirably adapted for this important service. 

 The chiefs, moreover, have rcgularlj^-formed 

 sf^uare tents made of them. In these the leaves 

 arc neatly sewed together, and laid over a light 

 framework, so that the whole is of trifling 

 Vt^eight, and can be packed up in a very small 

 compass. Another important use to which 

 these leaves are applied is as a substitute for 

 paper ; indeed, they may be called " Ceylon 

 paper," for almost, if not quite, all Cingalese 

 writincrs are executed on this or a similar 

 material. The leaves are for this purpose cut 

 into strips, usually about fifteen inches long by 

 three broad. These pieces are soaked for a 

 short time in boiling water or milk, then rubbed 

 backwards and forwards over a smooth piece 

 of wood to make them pliable, and then care- 

 fully dried. They will then readily receive 

 and retain an imjjression from a jjointed in- 

 strument ; and the Cingalese accordingly write 

 or engrave their letters upon them with such 

 an implement, which is called a style, and is 

 usually made of brass, steel, or iron. After 

 the leaf is written on, it is rubbed over with a 

 dark-coloured substance, which only remaining 

 in the part etched or scratched, gives the cha- 

 racters greater relief, and makes them more 



