64 VARIOUS USES OF THE PALM. [169I. 



straight Trunk, which seems to be form'd of large Eings at an 

 equal Distance. They have no such prickly Scales as I have 

 talkt of. At the top of the Trunk is a Cabbage, very like 

 to that I have describ'd. At the foot of this Cabbage 

 instead of Palm Boughs are Inroad Leaves, with Stalks about 

 six or seven Foot long : These Leaves are strong and thick, 

 and like a Fan when 'tis open ; the Sticks of which come a 

 little out of the Circumference, and are pointed at the end. 

 Some of these Leaves are eight Foot Diameter, insomuch 

 that they serv'd to make rare Coverings for our Cabbins. 

 We cut 'em out into little pieces, and made Hatts and 

 Umbrello's (jjaraso/s) of them. The Stalk is four Inches 

 broad, an Inch thick and a little roundish at the sides ; at the 

 bottom where it joyns to the Tree, it widens, and grows like a 

 fiat Shell which sticks to the Trunk, and in part embraces it. 

 This wide and hollow Plate [patte) is sometimes above a 

 Foot Diameter, and of the thickness of a Crown-Piece. We 

 made use of it for Dishes, Plates and Sav^cers. The first 

 Eind of the Stalk serv'd us instead of Eopes, and the Fibres 

 of the second made good Thread to Sow with. One might 

 have wove Stuffs with it, had it been prepar'd. 



We could not perceive any difference in the Tast, or in any 

 other qualities (entre le vin) of the Palm-tree or Plantane. This 

 Liquor is whitish like white Whey, and so sweety that no 

 other sweetness, if I may judge of it, can compare to it : 

 The newer it- is, the more agreeable. In three or four days 

 it begins to turn Sowre, and in seven or eight, 'tis as sharp 

 as the strongest Vinegar without changing its Colour. 



The Dates of the Plantane {Latanier) are bigger than 

 those of the Palm-tree. Having abundance of better things 

 to feed on, Fish and Flesh, Fruits, etc., we left the Dates for 

 the Turtles and other Birds, particularly the Solitaries, of 

 which we shall hereafter make mention. 



About the Cabbage of the Plantane, near the bottom of it 



