55 

 shape they resemlole a parsnip, and look like a cold potato. 

 In its fresh statn it will keep good for a couple of nioiiths, 

 and when well dried in the sixn, for a whole year. 



In this state they are called "odials." When redi^ced 

 to flour or meal, the favorite cool or gruel is jnade of it. 



Punatoo, In Ceylon the pulp of the lYult is preserved 

 for use in the following manner. The ripe fmits are put into 

 baskets containing water, and are then squeezed "by the hand 

 till the pulp forms a j'elly, La^z-ers of this jelly are spread 

 on palmyra leaf mats to dry on stages. Layer after layer is 

 desposited to the number of a"bout fifteen. These are left in 

 the sun atoiit a fortnight or three weeks, only covered at 

 night, and protected from the dew and rain. The best sort is 

 called "Pimatos," and the tough withe ry kind made from the 

 remaining fruits gathered at the end of the season, which is 

 much in favor, Punatoo is sold "by the mat at 3 s, to 6 s, 

 each, and is the chief food of the Islanders of Ceylon, and of 

 the poorer classes of Southern India, for several months of 

 the year. 



Sugar Date, Phoenix Dactylifera 

 Description and HaMtat 



Low or dioecious palms. Leaves pinnate ; leaflets 

 lanceolate or ensiform, sides induplicate ; spadices usually 

 several, interfoliar, erect or drooping in fruit, branched ; 

 spathe "basilar, complete, coriaceous j flowers small, yellow- 

 ish, coriaceous, Male flower, calyx angular, 3-toothed ; 

 petals 3, obliquely ovate, valvate ; stamens 6 (3-9, filaments 



