313 



elevation, probably, of eight feet ; and at that 

 time tlie enormous size of ita frdi^^ 

 consplouous ikm vrhm tlte tree ito^|)t&ijMtit& 



full elevation : it then usnully commences to 

 bear fruit, and continues for sixty years to yield 

 it in abundance ; but beyond that period, tire 

 produce begins decreasing, until it ceases alto- 

 gether. 



The WQ9d of this trcM? is used for various pur- 

 poses : aniouLT the Polvnesians it is used for 

 spears, rafters for their huts, fences Sic. ; and it 

 also makes excellent charcoal, Wlien the tree 

 has ceased 1^ be^, it h most inaktble^ mdt is 

 im]90rted into the European markets under the 

 name oi^ pore t/pute 7cood. Among the Sinhalese 

 it is used for j'sifters, laths, shingles, ehairs, 

 ladies' work-boxes, i^c. ; but during the period 

 of in#fc iilmiidlitit tearing, (contid^reii ti? 

 between ten and thirty-five yem* ^<3i*1ihj^) lli^ 

 heart is of so soft and spongy a nattlt^ that 

 it is merely nseil for feiiees, M ater-pipes, &c. 



The fronds are from eighteen to twenty feet 

 long, ail^ «K>mposed 0t a strong, tough stalk, 

 dimiaishl«ig Irofii bfite^ mi a> mmb^ of 

 narrw l^et»^ ranged on each side* The Sin- 



* The midribs of tlic lesv^ tied together, text ^ooK 

 l3ro(M»5 tlie d^cks of slUpi. 



Formerly it was smt tmi^oal' fbr th£ tTi^jtBtt ^in4le» to 



