614 



MEDICAL BOTANY. 



in bunches weighing from twenty to twenty-five pounds. Every part of the 

 tree is useful; the wood is very hard, and is employed in building; the leaves 

 are manufactured into a variety of articles ; the juice forms one of the kinds 

 of Palm Wine, and the seeds are ground to make <5il. Another species, P. 

 sylvestris, yields much sugar, and Dr. Roxburgh estimates that 100,000 

 cwts. are made from it annually in Bengal. P. farinifera affords a good 

 Sago. The roots of Chamcerops palmetto, of the Southern States, is said to 

 contain much tannin, and the leaves are employed in the manufacture of 

 hats, &c. The juice, when fermented, makes a palatable Palm Wine. 



Tribe 5. Cocoeje. 



Fig. 273. 



The most remarkable and 

 best known of the Palms, the 

 Cocos nucifera, belongs to 

 this group. Every portion 

 of this tree is converted to 

 some use. " The root is 

 sometimes masticated instead 

 of Betel-nut; of the small 

 fibres baskets are made in 

 Brazil. The hard case of 

 the stem is converted into 

 drums, and used in the con- 

 struction of huts ; the lower 

 part is so hard as to take a 

 beautiful polish, when it re- 

 sembles agate ; the reticu- 

 lated substance at the base 

 of the leaves is formed into 

 cradles, and into a coarse 

 kind of cloth. The unex- 

 panded terminal bud is a de- 

 licate article of food ; the 

 leaves furnish thatch for 

 dwellings, and materials for 

 fences, buckets, and baskets ; 

 they are used for writing 

 upon, and make excellent 

 torches; potash in abundance 

 is yielded by their ashes ; 

 the midrib of the leaf serves 

 for oars ; the juice of the 

 flower and stems is replete 

 with sugar, and is fermented 

 into excellent wine, or dis- 

 tilled into a sort of spirit 

 called Arrack ; or the sugar is separated, under the name of Jagary. The 

 value of the fruit for food, and the delicious beverage it contains, are well 

 known. The fibrous and uneatable rind is not less useful ; it is not only used 

 to polish furniture and scour floors, but is manufactured into a kind of cord- 

 age" called Coir Rope, which is nearly equal in strength to hemp, and is de- 

 signated by Roxburgh as the very best of all materials for cables, on account 



C. nucifera. 



