322 BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS 



declares fC those, who eat mushrooms, whether 

 <f springing from the ground or growing on a tree, 

 cc fully equal in guilt to the slayers of Brdhmens> and 

 " the molt despicable of all deadly sinners.*' 



76. Ta'la: 

 Syn. TVhtardjan. 

 Vulg. Tdl, Palmeira, 

 Linn. Borassus. 



This Magnificent palm is juftly entitled the king 

 of its order, which the Hindus call trina druma, or 

 grass trees. Van Rheede mentions the bluish gela- 

 tinous, pellucid substance of the young seeds, which, 

 in the hot season is cooling, and agreeable to the 

 taste; but the liquor extracted from the tree, is the 

 most seducing and pernicious of intoxicating vege- 

 table juices: when just drawn, it is as pleasant as 

 Pouhon water fresh from the spring, and almost equal 

 to the best mild Champaigne. From this liquor, ac- 

 cording to Rheede, sugar is extracted; and it 

 would be happy for these provinces, if it were al- 

 ways applied to so innocent a purpose. 



77. Na'rice'la: 

 Syn. Ldngalin. 

 Vulg. N argil, NdrjiL 

 Linn. Nut-bearing Coco s. 



Of a palm so well known to Europeans, little more 

 need be mentioned than the true Afiatic name : the 

 water of the young fruit is neither so copious, nor 

 so transparent and refreshing in Bengal, as in the isle 

 of Hinzuan, where the natives, who use the unripe 

 nuts in their cookery, take extreme care of the trees. 



78. Gu- 



