597 A. E. Verrili— The iBornuda Islands. 185 
little later, the people were not content with tapping the trees for 
the sap, but cut down the largest ones to extract the entire pulp and 
juice from the interior to make this drink, which was at first used 
only as a fermented beverage. It was, however, decidedly intoxica- 
ting and led to much drunkenness and disorder. 
Figure 40.—Palmetto: a, berries, part of a cluster ; b, section ; c, male flowers ; 
d, parts of a male flower; e, astamen. After Hemsley. 
In 1627, a law was passed prohibiting the cutting of the pal- 
mettoes for this manufacture, except by due warrant. But like most 
modern laws against intemperance, this law was not altogether 
efficient, for later the natives even learned how to distill it and 
make an “aqua-vitae,” which was a bad kind of strong rum or 
“vino.” Complaints were made at that time that the tallest and 
best palmettoes were being rapidly and recklessly destroyed for this 
use. Another more stringent law was passed in 1652 against cutting 
the trees for this purpose, and others in 1662, 1666, and 1668. This 
liquor is said to have made men wildly, madly, and dangerously 
drunk. 
In October, 1662, the Bermuda Company ordered the palmettoes 
to be preserved on the small islands so as to afford leaves for thatch- 
ing the houses, as follows: “EF for preventing the great mischiefe 
that is like to ensue to the plantacon for want of thatch by reason 
of felling of Palmetto Treese in the little Islands, wee have ordered 
