298 THE VEGETABLE WORLD. 
to take his departure, his host again addressed him: “I am 
about to write to a friend I have in the city. May I ask you to 
charge yourself with my communication?” “Yes; but will your 
Cocoa-nut tree still supply you with what you want?” “Certainly,” 
said the Indian; “with the saw-dust from severing the leaves I 
made this ink, and with the leaves this parchment; in former 
times it was used to record all public and memorable acts.” 
In the great conservatories of Kew, of the Museum de Paris, 
and of St. Petersburg, magnificent specimens of Palms are culti- 
vated, which flourish there and fructify frequently. One of these 
is shown in Fig. 8, one of the two species of Chamerops humilis 
which decorate the entrance to the Jardin des Plantes at Paris. This 
species is indigenous to the south of Europe; the others belong 
almost exclusively to the torrid zone, and to the warmer regions 
of the temperate zone. The species of Chamerops are numerous 
in India, and the Indian Archipelago. They swarm in equatorii 
America, but are comparatively rare on the African continent im 
consequence of the long periods of dry weather to which the 
climate is subject. Another species of Palm, extremely well - 
known in Central America, and which forms immense forests 2 
Brazil, is the Mauritia flexuosa, represented in Fig. 395. | 
The Avorra Pam (Elais Guineensis) is a magnificent tee 
originally from Guinea, from whence it has been transported oe 
Asia and America. Its fruit, which is about the size of an olive, 
is of a golden yellow, and filled with a liquid oil known under — 
the name of palm oil, which serves for the manufacture of soap, 
and is imported to Europe for that purpose, being one te 
principal objects of exportation from the east coast of Africa. 
The Saco Trex (Sagus rhumphii), originally from ie _ 
Isles, contains in its often voluminous stem. a very eps 
fecula; but the finest sago is said to be prepared from as : 
~ and genuina. , ee 
The Arxc Para (Areca catechu), indigenous to India and Cey'* 7 
furnishes a highly valuable catechu. The albumen of 158° 
. i ; ina leaf ba 
cut up in slices, powdered with chalk, and enclosed in Lee 
the Betel tree, is. much used by native Indians Lace a 
digestion. Another species of Aree (Areca oleracea) ® E 
ticularly esteemed for the excellence of its large a 
