THE TECHNOLOGIST. [June 1, 1865. 



486 SUGAR FROM THE ARENGA PALM. 



used like it, among other purposes, for making ropes, and mixing with 

 mortar." Low, in his "Borneo," whilst corroborating this statement, 

 adds : — " The hairy filaments are plaited by the natives into ornaments for 

 the arms, legs, and neck, which are more pleasing in their deep black 

 hue and neat appearances (at least, to eyes of Europeans) than the beads 

 and brass with which these people are fond of adorning their persons." 

 Bennett, in his " Wanderings," also gives a highly favourable descrip- 

 tion of this fibre, and throws out the suggestion that it may be the same 

 as that called " Cabo negro " by the Spaniards at Manila. The princi- 

 pal production of the Gomute palm is the toddy, which, according to 

 Crawfurd, is produced in the following manner : — 



" One of the spadices is, on the first appearance of fruit, beaten on 

 three successive days with a small stick, with the view of determining 

 the sap to the wounded part. The spadix is then cut off a little way 

 from its root (base), and the liquor which pours out is received in pots of 

 earthenware, in bamboo, or other vessels. The Gomute palm is fit to 

 yield toddy when nine or ten years old, and continues to yield it for two 

 years, at the average rate of three quarts a day. When newly drawn, 

 the liquor is clear, and in taste resembles fresh must. In a very short 

 time it becomes turbid, whitish, and somewhat acid, and quickly runs 

 into the vinous fermentation, acquiring an intoxicating quality. In this 

 state great quantities are consumed ; a still larger quantity is imme- 

 diately applied to the purpose of yielding sugar. With this view the 

 liquor is boiled to a synvp, and thrown out to cool in small A'essels, the 

 form of which it takes, and in this shape it is sold in the markets. This 

 sugar is of a dark colour and greasy consistence, with a peculiar flavour ; 

 it is the only sugar used by the native population. The wine of this 

 palm is also used by the Chinese residing in the Indian islands in the 

 preparation of the celebrated Batavian arrack. 



"In Malacca, the Gomute, there termed Kabong, is cultivated prin- 

 cipally for the juice which it yields, for the manufacture of jaggery 

 (sugar). The "Journal of the Indian Archipelago " for November, 1849, 

 says : — " Like the cocoa-nut tree, it comes into bearing after the seventh 

 year. It produces two kinds of mayams or spadices — male and female. 

 The female spadix \ields fruit, but no juice, and the male vice versa. 

 Some trees will produce five or six female spadices before they yield a 

 single male one, and such trees are considered unprofitable by the toddy 

 collectors ; but it is said that in this case they yield sago equal in 

 quality, though not in quantity, to the Cycas circinalis, although it is 

 not always put to such a requisition by the natives ; others will produce 

 only one or two female spadices, and the rest male, from each of which 

 the quantity of juice extracted is the same as that obtained from ten 

 cocoa-nut spadices. A single tree will yield in one day sufficient juice 

 for the manufacture of five bundles of jaggery, valued at two cents each. 

 The number of mayams shooting out at any one time may be averaged 



