323 



liiitiirally, have a beautit'ul luilk-wliite appear- 

 ance. Tim tdMi$m e&H tli^ lower liwi ^ 

 n«m^ jgi^ptied geUeMly tor iill iow^ ; md the 

 spatlie is denouiiiintt'il Pa tktrl ; Pa signifymg 

 a or nttv lianl, sometimes applied to 



the shell of the cocoa-nut ; and the spathe is 

 tlitis conside^red tlie shell of the flowers. !rii^ 

 5rst zfp^tmm of ilmz ^mmi m a tree i^ 

 Tnodera^te elevation (when tliey are well ne^n) 

 has an ("lejjant effect — tlie cluster erect, droop- 

 ing, and tlelicately white. The taste of the 

 iowera is inost powerfully asti'ingent, and ia 

 Ceylon is nsed trjiedie!iaa%m via^ 

 <lis<'ases, more particularly that distressing ma- 

 lad v in tropieal climates — gonorrhoea. The 

 mode in which it is administered is the ex- 

 pressed jid<i0 of the Bolster Jiaix^ with way naillCt 

 ^nd taketi in mall ^^ismtltles not ^miiBg 



a winc-ohiss full, Wt at.regnlar periods, affords 

 ahntot iuDnediate temporary relief, and, iTper- 

 «ievered in, effectual cure. It \< from these Hower 

 spathes, before tlie flowers have yet expanded, that 

 the deli^oiis bieveta^e, kitowiii W^st&p^x^ m 

 toddy or palm-wine is nnidr;* it it eaU&dli^ the 

 Siiiiiuh se Ji^a, and the llinrlo{) Portu2:nese Sou7'a, 

 but is unknown to the natives of Polynesia, 



* The palm vine of Africa is procured in a similfir manner^ 

 but I believe from other Bpccius of palms. 



