172 



THE COCO-NUT 



CHAP. 



result in the flow of sap ; and also by slightly bruising 

 the unexpanded inflorescence inside the bract, contributes 

 to preventing such a growth as would burst the latter. 



In the Philippines and Java the usual practice is to 

 rely on the cutting alone to produce the flow of sap. 

 After the tip of the spathe has been removed the cut 

 is renewed morning and night, and sometimes a third 

 time daily, a very thin slice being removed each time, 

 with as sharp a knife as possible. The length of time 

 that this treatment must continue before the sap 

 begins to flow depends upon the expertness of the 

 worker, and probably upon the condition of the tree as 

 well. A good worker will get a flow of sap after three 

 days ; but the time said to be usually necessary in 

 some countries is four or five days, or sometimes even 

 longer. When the sap begins to flow, a vessel is tied 

 under the tip of the inflorescence to receive it as it 

 drops. For this purpose a joint of bamboo is always 

 used in the Philippines and Malaya, while in India and 

 Ceylon an earthenware jar is employed. An explana- 

 tion of this difference may be that in the Philippines 

 the sap is used only as a beverage or for production of 

 liquor, while in India the toddy is often used to make 

 sugar. The top of the bamboo is sometimes screened 

 in Java. In the Philippines there is not only no care 

 taken to keep this bamboo jar clean, but a clean joint 

 of bamboo is regarded as unsuitable ; the reason for 

 this being that bamboo tubes which have been used 

 contain ferments which hasten the production of 

 alcohol in the toddy. To prevent attack by insects, or 

 fermentation in the cut tip, a Philippine practice is to 

 put the juice of red pepper on it daily. 



In Ceylon and India the practice is for the toddy- 

 collector to climb each tree. These men are known in 

 Ceylon as " sanars," and naturally become exceedingly 

 expert climbers. They climb the trees by the aid of a 

 rope which fastens the ankles together, and at the top 

 of the tree pass another rope around the tree and their 

 own bodies, so that both hands are left free for work. 



