64 FOOD FOR THE TROPICS 



baskets of the leaves themselves. Cloth is manufactured 

 from the epidermis, or outer surface, of the leaflets ; and on 

 the Sherboro, West Africa, hammocks, baskets, and mats 

 are made of it. 



Wild Date Palm 



{Phmnix s^nnosa) 



This is not the palm from which the dates of commerce 

 are obtained in North Africa, but is a native of tropical 

 Africa from Senegal to Kaffraria. It is called Mkindo 

 (Kisuah, East Africa) ; Msala (Usambara, East Africa) ; 

 and Brab (Africa). 



Moloney states that toddy is procured from this species. 



The very young leaflets, before the leaves expand, are 

 used for the plaiting of hats or caps at Accra, West 

 Africa. In Zanzibar mats are made from the leaves. 



East African Doum Palm 



This palm is probably Hyplmne coriacea, of East Africa 

 and Madagascar, and called Mkotsche in the Kisuah 

 dialect. The juice of it is stronger than that of the 

 coco-palm. 



In Case 56, No. 113, Museum No. 2, Kew Gardens, 

 London, there is a drawing illustrating the mode 

 of collecting toddy at Kongone, Zambesi River, East 

 Africa ; also a cover made of the leaves for protecting 

 the wounded surface during the collection of the 

 toddy. Case 55 has strainers, spoons, mats, and a 

 hut made from the leaves of probably this species of 



