324 



altlioLigli at some of the islands EuFopc'un», wliu 

 TU^tecl those parts of Indb i^Ffeare ihey &a<i 

 mm th& pmm of cotlectiog it, had cemnew^iid 

 instructing the natives^ who were delio-lited to 

 luive a l>p\ rrage pos§e$smg the stimulus of their 

 favourite rum. 



To procure the toddy * the spathe is tied with 

 dtiipet of the imlk-wJiite leaver of l^e veijy fowng 

 branches, (which are iinich tougher and stronger 

 than the old ones,) to prevent its expan>io!i ; 

 it is cut a Httle transversely from the top, and 

 beaten either witli the handle of the toddy knife 

 or It piece of ehmj or iron wood ; this 



process liaving been continued nioniiiig- and 

 evening (at dawn of day, and just as the sun 

 declines below the horizon) for five or six suc- 

 cessive days, the under part of the spatlie is 

 taken off, m ^ to permit 6f its being g^iially 

 bent, when the Chandos or toddy-drawers, for 

 the purpose of kee]Hng it in tliat position, attach 

 it to some neighbouring branch* Ai'ter a farther 



* Foirmerty the toMy was 8U]pp>asejt iff be tlie sap of the 

 lJfeedrav\'n froin tlic branches. **The wine issues from the 

 top of the tree, and is prcfcuwd thHs-^— They cut a branchi 

 binding it hard!, ttsd hatig an earthen pot ttnder the cut ehd^ 

 which they cinpty ever}' morning nntl vwmng." — Fi/r/i's 

 Jmrne^ to India Ovei landy in 1583. (Kerr's Collection of 

 Voyages, vol. vii. p. 47(j.) 



