THE EQUINOCTIAL ZONE. 57 



hard, and susceptible of a high polish, are also 

 formed into numerous ornamental articles. The 

 fibrous husk is made into cordage,. ropes, (coir 

 rope,) mats, brushes, and similar articles. The 

 leaves are used for thatching ; and the stems, 

 though they cannot be cut into planks, are used 

 entire, as pillars in the support of large build- 

 ings. From the sap an excellent wine is 

 produced, which, however, will keep but a 

 very short time ere it becomes converted into 

 vinegar. 



Another valuable species is the sago palm, or 

 rather number of species, for several are known 

 which yield this important article of commerce. 

 The principal ones are, Sagus Iceuis, S. genuina, 

 S. Rumphii, Cycas circinalis, Cycas revoluta, 

 Caryota urens, Phoenix farim/era, and Saguerus 

 saccharifer. They grow extensively in the East 

 Indies, Siam, China, Japan, Java, Sumatra, 

 Borneo, Malacca, etc. Sago is prepared from the 

 pith of the trunk, which must be cut down for 

 the purpose. The pith is only fit for making 

 sago immediately before the flowering of the 

 tree ; at a later stage, either none is obtained, or 

 only a bad woody kind. The pith being ex- 

 tracted, is rubbed down in water into small 

 particles, which will pass through a sieve. A 

 single trunk of Sagus Rumpliii, fifteen years old, 

 will yield 600 pounds of sago ; and an acre of 

 land, planted with these palms, yields an annual 

 produce of 8,000 pounds. 



Saguerus saccharifer, one of the sago palms, is 

 a very important species. It is very common in 



