52 

 sleep on, but for drying various kinds of fruit, treading out 

 grains and many other purposes. On the stem of the leaf is a 

 very hard and strong covering, like that of the bamboo or 

 rattan, which, slit off, is formed into coarse, strong ropes. 



Each tree has from twenty-five to forty fresh green 

 leaves upon It at a time, and of these the peoi-le. frequently 

 cut off twelve or fifteen annually, or a greater number once 

 in two years, to be devoted to various purposes, as well as to 

 enable the fruit to ripen and Increase in size- When the 

 leaves are Intended for thatch, or for making fences, they are 

 placed flat on the ground in layers over each other, and often 

 with vi/elghts upon thera to assist in the process of flattening 

 thera. The thatch formed of these does not last more than two 

 years, nor is it so handsome as that made from the plaited 

 cocoanut leaves. The leaves make very close and elegant 

 fences. 



Toddy. At the seasdn when the Inflorescence begins to 

 appear, when the spathes have had time to burst, the "toddy 

 drawer" is at work in the palraymgroves . The spathe is cut 

 off near the top, and an earthen pitcher tied on to the stump. 

 The sap runs into this pitcher, which is emptied and replaced 

 every morning after the stump has been again cut, and this 

 process is repeated until the supply of the sap has been com- 

 pletely exhausted. Powdered lime which has the property'- of 

 preventing fermentation, is sprinkled on the outside of the 

 earthen vessel In which the sap is collected. An expert 

 climber can draw toddy from about forty trees In a few hours. 



