257 



pressed from the seeds of several species, the most important and 

 best known are Coco-nut oil, Palm-oil, (Elaeis), Date-oil, {Pkcenix) ; 

 Cohune-nut, (Attalea), the residuum being used as a meal for fodder 

 and also as manure. 



Of the woody or bony seeds, Coco-nuts and the double Coco- 

 nuts, Coco-de-Mer are used as utensils and ornaments, and smaller 

 seeds notably Ivory-nut Phyteleplias, and Coquilla-nut Attalea, and 

 Acrocomia are used as buttons, necklaces, tops, and other ornaments 

 and articles. 



Dragon's blood used as a coloring 1 matter and also in making 

 incense, is obtained from the scales of the fruit of several species 

 of Daemonoraps (Rotan Jerenang). 



Coir or Coco-nut fibre is obtained from the fibrous husk of the 

 coco-nut, not from the leaf-sheath as with other palm fibres. The 

 seed of the Betel-nut is well known throughout the East being 

 universally chewed by natives, and is also exported for use as a 

 dentifrice and for medicine. 



The spathe or floral envelope of some species is sometimes used 

 as a wrapper, and lastly the pliable fibrous spadices of the inflores- 

 cence, after the fruit has fallen, are tied into bundles and used as 

 brooms. 



Bicd. — From the base of crown, or the leaf axis the growing 

 point or bud of some species is highly prized as a vegetable or 

 condiment and is termed palm cabbage. The cabbage of coconut 

 is excellent as is also that of mountain cabbage, Euterpe oleracea. 

 Cabbage Palmetto, Sabal Palmetto, and also Oreodoxa, and in a 

 lesser degree several other species. 



Leaves. — Palm leaves have many uses and throughout the tro- 

 pics are everywhere valued for thatch. In the Malay Peninsula 

 the best thatch or attaps are Rumbia Sagus Ixvis (which when well 

 made and carefully fixed) will last 5 years, Nipah, Coconut, Ber- 

 tam, {Eugeissoma tristis), and Palas, (Licuala). Fans and umbrellas 

 are among the uses of palm leaves as the names so often implv in 

 many countries, and locally Daun payong, umbrella leaf, (Teys- 

 mannid). Other uses of leaves are baskets, sleeping mats, brushes, 

 ornaments, and straw for plaiting and used for baskets and hats. 

 From the leaves of Copernicia and Ceroxylon a waxy deposit is 

 obtained and used for moulding and also made into candles. 



In some species the midrib of the leaflet is useful as is instanced 

 in the coconut which furnishes a common broom of the Straits. 

 The petiole or midrib pf the leaf has many uses such as arrows, 

 spears, fishing rods, walking sticks, sandals and fancy articles, and 

 the leaf sheath, the lower sheathing extremity which surrounds and 

 fixes a leaf on its stem, is in many species especially tough and 

 largely used in the Colonial bazaars as a wrapper instead of paper 

 or handbaskets, and by natives for carrying food and even liquids, 

 and for baskets and other utensils. In Malaya the best are Coco- 

 nut, and Betel-nut. From other species, hats, brooms, cordage 

 and various articles are obtained. 



