THE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON. 685 



them, save the stones. As an every day food, dates are considered 

 very heating, in consequence of which they are not much used on 

 journeys, as causing great thirst. The most relishing and whole- 

 some way to eat them is, when made into a paste, mixed with 

 barley. When the heart of the leaves has been cut out a sweet 

 thickish fluid collects at that cavity, called lagbi, which is very 

 refreshing and slightly purgative. A few hours afterwards the 

 fluid begins to ferment, becomes acid and very intoxicating. From 

 the ripe fruit a kind of treacle is prepared, used especially for 

 coating leather bags or pipes to render them tight." — (Vogel). 

 In the Punjab dates form an important article of food in certain 

 districts, and they are sold in the bazaar under different names, 

 according to quality and the mode of preparation. Thus, according 

 to Coldstream, the most esteemed kind is called Chirni in the 

 Muzaffargarh district ; this is the date of the best palms, split up 

 in the middle and dried in the sun. The second best is called 

 Pind ; it is eaten as it comes from the tree, without further pre- 

 paration. The least esteemed kind is Bugri, taken from inferior 

 trees and boiled in oil and water. The Punjab dates are smaller 

 than those of Arabia and Egypt, but they are very good, and 

 particularly so when there has been little or no late rain. When 

 beginning to get ripe, a piece of matting is often put over the 

 cluster of dates to prevent birds eating them. The kernels are 

 deemed medicinal. The large succulent head, cut from among the 

 mass of leaves, is eaten (Gaddah, Gari, Galli). The tree yields 

 a gum, called Hukm Chil. Attempts have been made, but without 

 much success, to tap the Date Palms of Multan for their sugary 

 sap. 



The wood of the Date Palm is lighter than that of Cocos 

 or Borassus. The cellular tissue is soft ; the vascular bundles 

 generally show, on a horizontal section, an oval shape with two 

 distinct large pores at one end, the hard woody portion gray ; on 

 a vertical section they appear as shining narrow lines. The wood 

 of male trees and of trees past bearing is used for building, water- 

 channels, bridges, and various other purposes. 



Of the leaves, mats and the bag-like baskets universally used in 

 the whole Mediterranean region, and in other countries, are made. 

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