OF THE COCO-NUT TKEE. 
119 
yellow colour, and a beautiful texture resembling fine lea- 
ther or satin. In some parts of Ceylon, the natives evince 
great taste in ornamenting triumphal arches, as also ball- 
rooms, and similar places of public resort, with the leaves 
of this tree, and some remarkably beautiful species of moss. 
As the young leaves are translucent, they serve to make 
lanterns, in the construction of which many of the inhabi- 
tants are very dexterous. 
The practice of shewing respect to individuals by means 
of the branches of palm-trees appears to be very ancient. 
See Matthew xxi. 8, Mark xi, 8, and John xii. 13. The 
foliage of the palm tribe of plants has been in many coun- 
tries considered an emblem of joy and victory, and hence 
the word palm is sometimes employed as a synonyme of 
victory and triumph. See Leviticus xxiii. 40. In ancient 
times, when pilgrims resorted to Palestine, they commonly 
returned bearing palm-leaves ; on this account they were 
denominated Palmers. Captain Lyon, when describing 
the amusements of the natives of some parts of northern 
Africa, informs us, that the dancers " were directed by an 
old woman, with a torch in one hand, and a long palm- 
branch in the other, and sung in chorus verses which she 
repeated to them." In the island of Otaheite, the female 
inhabitants wear bonnets constructed of the leaflets of the 
coco ; and, in Ceylon, the European soldiers manufacture 
hats of small strips of the leaves, in the same manner that 
straw-hats are made. Indeed, broad-brimmed hats of this 
construction are frequently worn both by Europeans and 
natives, particularly by fishermen, who are much exposed 
to the direct rays of an ardent sun. 
The leaflets are sometimes used to write upon, and the 
instrument employed to make the impression is an iron sty- 
lus. The leaves of the Palmyra (Borassus JlabeU'iformis), 
or Talipot {Coryplia umbraculifera), are, however, much 
