THE PALM-TREE. 159 



these northern latitudes^ that we are scarcely 

 to be recognised^ except from history, as the 

 same nation : — but let us return to the palm, 



" The tree grows with an upright stem, 

 devoid of branch or bend, to the height of from 

 sixty to one hundred feet, or more. It then 

 sends forth a magnificent crown of leaves, 

 somewhat resembling those of our fern. The 

 main rib of the leaves is from eight to twelve 

 feet in length, and the leaflets are from two 

 to eight : these, however, are not more than 

 one inch in width ; and they are not unlike 

 our great water flags. The flowers appear in 

 large bunches, or spikes, between the leaves. 

 The trunk, I believe, is hardly considered as 

 timber, being full of interstices, or cracks, 

 which are filled with pith. It is the pith of a 

 sort of palm, which makes sago. The fruit, 

 which we call dates, when ripened properly on 



