THE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON. 947 



Harbour near Culcutta, hats have for many years been made of 

 this material and sold to the European sailors who visit Calcutta. 



Umbrellas made of these leaves, though doubtless \e,vj good for 

 protection from sun and rain, are rather inconvenient, as they are 

 made in such a way that they cannot be folded. They have a 

 handle and are about the size of an ordinary umbrella when 

 expanded. Single leaves are occasionally used as a protection 

 from the sun when the weather is very hot. 



A great variety of fans are made of the leaves ; some are nicely 

 painted and covered with pieces of transparent and colourless talc, 

 others are made to fold into a small compass, and again to expand,, 

 when wanted, into an almost perfect circle. 



Several kinds of fibre may be obtained from the Palmyra Palm.. 

 A loose fibre which surrounds the base of the leaf-stalk ; a fibr& 

 which may be separated from the leaf-stalks ; a fibre called tar,. 

 which may be prepared from the interior of the stem ; a fibre or coir 

 derived from the pericarp, and the fibrous material of the leaves. 



The leaf-fibre is utilised in the manufacture of the basket-ware 

 of Madras, produced at Pulikat in Chingleput, Kimedi in Ganjam 

 and Bezwada in Godavari, etc. Fine strips of the leaves specially 

 prepared and dyed are plaited into braids and worked up into fancy 

 boxes, cigar-cases and the like. 



Some years back investigations were instituted in India with 

 a view to determining the extent to which the cord-like fibres 

 might be employed in brush-making, as substitutes for the 

 American piassaba fibre {Attalea funifera) and the Ceylon kittul 

 (Garyota urens). So far indications have not been obtained of a 

 very great demand for these special Indian fibres. 



The stem or tar fibre is prepared in some special way by the 

 fishermen so that it becomes pliable and can be plaited into fish- 

 traps. It is neither spun nor twisted, a single thread or fibro- 

 vascular bundle being used. The method of preparation adopted 

 by the fishermen has not as yet been made public. The export 

 trade in tal coir, or ' palm-fibre,' as it is often called, centres 

 largely in Tuticorin. 



One of the most singular purposes to which the Palmyra leaf 

 is employed in Ceylon is that of being used as a plug to keep open 



