370 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXL 



inflammable material is easily kindled by an accidental fire, and is 

 an almost irresistible temptation to the passing vandal ; but the 

 most destruction is attributed to the desert Indians, who are said 

 to burn the dry leaves that they may more easily gather the fruit. 

 To so burn them was the immemorial custom of the desert Indians 

 and it has been erroneously alleged that in this they were influenced 

 by a superstitious motive, viz., the making of an offering by fire to 

 the spirits of the dead. That any plants survive this ordeal of 

 flames is strong evidence of the vitality of the species. 



Uses. — The wood of the Desert Palm is light and soft, and 

 contains numerous conspicuous dark orange-coloured fibro-vascular 

 bundles. The specific gravity of the absolutely dry wood is 

 0*5173, a cubic foot weighing 32-24 pounds. Trimble \ while 

 examining this Palm for tannin, was impressed by the sweet and 

 salt taste of the fresh tissue. Less than one per cent, of tannin 

 was found, but, as the specimen contained 68*97 per cent, of 

 moisture, this raised the amount of tannin to 2*73 per cent, when 

 calculated for absolutely dry substance. The quantity is too small, 

 however, to give the tree any value on account of its astringency. 

 Attention was then directed to the sugar content of the specimen 

 with better results, for the amount found, when calculated for dry 

 substance, was 15"50 per cent. Since this amount was not 

 materially increased by first treating the infusion with acid, it was 

 probably a glucose sugar. The ash in the absolutely dry specimen 

 was found to be 11-86 per cent., over ^ of which was sodium 

 chloride, the actual amount of salt being 3*09 per cent, of the dry 

 substance of the Palm. The specimen analyzed was a cross-section 

 of the trunk at the base of the leaves. 



The habitations of the desert Indians were mere shelters, but 

 naturally palm leaves, when easily procured, were utilized in their 

 primitive construction. Strands split from the leaves were con- 

 venient for tying, and it is said were sometimes used for the spiral 

 coil with which they built up their baskets. They were also used 

 in building the characteristic granaries used by these Indians for 

 storing the various seeds used by them for food. 



^ Garden and Forest, Vol. IX., 133. 



