48 



JOURNAL, R.A.S. ( CEYLON). [VOL. II., PART I. 



I have reason to believe it is never planted, but is sown by 

 seeds being scattered by animals. This tree is seldom found 

 in forests at an elevation exceeding 3,000 feet, and grows in 

 steep places. It is much cut down by the natives, and when 

 the inner pith is removed it is used for spouts to conduct 

 the waters for irrigation, and from the roofs of their houses. 

 The wood, which is particularly hard, appears as if it were 

 composed of large dark fibers twisted together ; it is much 

 used to peg together the beams used in building ; also as a 

 substitute for iron as bars to windows, and for paddy poun- 

 ders. But the chief use of the Kitul tree is to draw the 

 toddy from it. The manner in which this is done is curious : 

 as soon as the bud or spike appears, it is cut off within three 

 inches of the stalk, and an incision made in which a mixture 

 of limes, salt, black pepper, and garlick is put and tied up 

 very tight. This is left for three days, after which it is 

 removed and the bud again cut ; the toddy will now flow into 

 a chatty placed to receive it : the liquor may be taken from 

 a tree in this way for several months at a time. It is 

 remarkable that a tree which has been continually tapped 

 for many years produces the hardest wood, the wood of the 

 wild tree growing in the jungle being comparatively "soft and 

 spongy. Toddy when freshly drawn from the tree is sweet 

 to the taste, and possesses all the properties of cane juice ; 

 after being boiled and the watery particles evaporated from 

 it several times, it crystallises into a coarse sugar, capable 

 of being refined into a superior article. After standing 

 twenty-four hours toddy begins to ferment, and acquires an 

 intoxicating quality ; in this state it is called rd, and much 

 of it is clandestinely consumed. I use this term because the 

 arrack renter of the District has the power of levying a fine 

 upon those who use it — a power too frequently and vexa- 

 tiously exercised. 



The Goraka, or Gamboge tree, produces a pulpy fruit 



