31 



10.— SAGO. 



Nat. Oed. — Palmaoeae. 



Metroxylon sagu. 



The specimen from which this photograph, 

 is taken, was obtained direct from the pith-like 

 portion of the stem of Metroxylon sagu, for 

 which I am indebted to Mr. Jackson, of Kew. 



The Starch is a large and rather coarse one, 

 containing many muUei-shaped granules, which 

 shape appears to be the outcome of a process of 

 sub-division, as is illustrated in the photograph. 



The Sago of commerce having been subjected 

 to heat and moisture in the process of manufacture, 

 the characters of the Starch are, as in Tapioca, 

 lost to a great extent. Sago is grown principally 

 in the Moluccas and Sumatra, whence, in its 

 rough state, it is sent to Singapore, where it is 

 granulated by the same process as Tapioca and 

 then re-exported. In its prepared state it is 

 extensively used in this and other countries. 



Sago is the only Starch food derived from 

 the PalmacecB, although for variety of products 

 there is no other order, except perhaps the 

 GraminecB, so useful to man. 



