MAIZE SAGO. 59 



raises a fermentation, and when this ceases, the liquor is let oft' from 

 the dregs, and set by till wanted. 



In some of the islands of the South Sea, the same beverage is 

 obtained by similar means : and here, where each individual is 

 his own lawgiver, it is no uncommon thing for a near relation to 

 excuse a murderer, for a good drunken banquet of bici. 



\_Lin, Pantologia, 



SECTION IX. 



Sago. 



Areca. Sycas. Link. 



The nutritive mealy grain which we call Sago is obtained from 

 both the above plants, and we shall hence give a brief account of 

 each. 



1. Ci/cas. 



Sago tree. Bread-tree of the Hottentots. 



This genus of plants belongs to the natural order of the palms, 

 and its fruit is a dry plum with a bivalved kernel. The genus has 

 two species as follow : 



1. C. circinalis, or proper Sago-tree. This grows spontane- 

 ously in the East Indies, and particularly on the coast of Malabar. 

 It runs up with a straight trunk to 40 feet or more, having many 

 circles the whole length, occasioned by the old leaves falling off; 

 for, standing in a circular order round the stem, and embracing it 

 with their base, whenever they drop, they leave the marks of their 

 adhesion behind. The leaves are pinnated, and grow to the length 

 of seven or eight feet. The pinnae or lobes are long, narrow, en- 

 tire, of a shining green, all the way of a breadth, lance-shaped at 

 the point, are closely crowded together, and stand at right angles 

 on each side the mid. rib, like the teeth of a comb. The flowers 

 are produced in long bunches at the foot-stalks of the leaves, and 

 are succeeded by oval fruit, about the size of large plums, of a red 

 colour when ripe, and a sweet flavour. Each contains a hard 

 brown nut, inclosing a white meat, which tastes like a chesnut. 



This is a valuable tree to the inhabitants of India, as it not only 

 furnishes a considerable part of their constant bread, but also sup- 

 plies them with a great article of trade. The trunk contains a fari- 

 naceous substance, which they extract from it and make into bread 



