378 CORAL AND ATOLLS 



to do so, provides another excellent article of diet {tombong), 

 which consists of a sponge-like mass that occupies the whole of 

 the interior of the mature nut. 



An alcoholic drink {tivah) is prepared from the juice of the 

 wounded spathe {manchong), and when the tioak has turned 

 sour it makes an excellent vinegar (ehukak klapct). 



The central shoot of the palm, while still white and 

 brittle (umMt), makes good salad and an extremely pleasant 

 pickle. 



The palm itself furnishes the materials for many domestic 

 purposes. Baskets (kroso) are made from its interlaced leaves ; 

 thatch (afcq)) for house roofs is prepared by tying the leaves 

 into bundles, and the midrib of the leaf (plepa) when split 

 makes the well-known house wall called dinding. The wood 

 of the trunk is used at times for certain parts of houses, and 

 the central wood {nibong), which is stronger and tougher than 

 the outer parts, makes useful walking-sticks. 



PANDANACEiE. 



(56) Pandanus, sp. Though not observed by Darwin or 

 Forbes, is now very abundant on Pulu Selma and the larger 

 Southern islands — one island being actually named Pulu 

 Pandan. 



The fibre of the leaves is used to make matting and 

 basket-work. 



Musci. 

 (67) Hypnum rufescens, Hook. 



FUNAGI. 



(58) POLYPORUS LURIDUS. 



(59) Marasmius, sp. ' 



(60) Panus CONNATUS, Berk. ? This fungus grows generally 

 upon the ampol tree, and is good to eat. 



