532 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXIV. 



is not as durable as that of the Nipa Palm, a roof of the Coco-nut 

 leaves lasting but four years, while one of Nipa will last from ten 

 to twelve. Many of the natives' huts in India, Ceylon, as well as 

 in Polynesia, are almost entirely constructed of materials derived 

 from the Coco-nut tree. The Tahitians plait the leaves for screens, 

 or as covering for the floors ; for similar purposes, and also as a 

 thatch, it is used by the natives of the islands of Rotuma, Tonga- 

 tabu, and other of the Polynesian Islands. The ribs of the leaflets 

 are slender, strong, and somewhat elastic. The}^ are frequentl}^ 

 tied in bunches and used as brooms for sweeping about the fire- 

 places, and in Samoa are used as forks in eating. Indeed, in those 

 islands the word " tua niu " (coco-nut leaflet rib) is applied to 

 forks in general, and is also used for wire and as the name of cer- 

 tain pinnate ferns which have a slender stiff" midrib. Skewers, 

 knitting ne3dles, and toothpicks are also made of tua-niu, 

 and in the early days the oily kernels of the nuts of Aleurites 

 moluccana were strung on them, like pieces of meat on a 

 brochette, and served the Samoans and other Polynesians as 

 candles. On many of the Pacific islands tua-niu, neatly smoothed 

 and pointed, were made into combs both for use and for ornament. 

 In Ceylon and throughout Polynesia the dry leaves are used as 

 torches, both for themselves during the dark nights or to carry 

 before the carriages and palanquins of the Europeans. The 

 washermen of Ceylon burn the foliage for the sake of its alkaline 

 ashes. The leaves formerly played a part in many of the religious 

 ceremonies of the Tahitians, and were also an emblem of authority ; 

 they were sent by the chiefs to their dependents when any requisi- 

 tion was made. Through the leaf tied to the sacrifice the god was 

 supposed to enter; and by the same road the evil spirits, who, it 

 was imagined, tormented those afflicted with diseases, were driven 

 ■out. Bunches or strings of the segments were also suspended in 

 the temple on certain occasions, and answered the same purpose as 

 rosaries, reminding the worshippers of the order of the prayers. 



Wood, Root, Cabbage, etc. — The outer wood of the stem is 

 close-grained with dai-k-brown vascular bundles ; it works smooth 

 ^nd takes a good polish. It weighs 70 lb., value of P. 608. 

 The wood is devoted to various purposes : among the Poljniesians 

 it is used for shears, rafters, fences, etc., and converted into char- 

 coal. When the tree has ceased to bear fruit, it is most valuable, 

 and is imported into the European markets under the name of 

 Porcupine wood. It is made into ornaments and fancy articles. 

 Among the Singalese it is used for rafters, laths, shingles, chairs, 

 ladies' work-boxes, etc., but during the period of its most abundant 

 bearing (considered to be between ten and thirty-five years' 

 growth), the heart is of so soft and spongy a nature, that it is 

 merely used for fences, water-pipes, etc. From the trunk the 



