250 TlMEHRl. 
Macoosis occasionally raise three or four of the parallel 
fibres from the outer skin, for a distance of about three 
feet, their ends being left attached ; those fibres are kept 
away from the main-leafstalk by a bridge, like that of a 
violin, inserted under them at each end ; and the whole 
is then fastened upright on the tops of the houses, where 
the wind playing through the strings produces a very 
musical sound, like that from an vEolian harp. Sandals 
are cut, by the Macoosis and Arecoonas, who have to 
walk much on the often stony savannahs of their dis- 
tricts, from the tough outer part of the sheathing part of 
the leafstalk; and the strings which fasten these sandals 
on the feet are procured, as above described, from the 
leaflets of the same leaf. The pith of the leafstalk, tough 
and durable, is cut up and used in various ways ; cut into 
long lath-like strips, which are then fastened side by side 
like the laths of a ' Venetian blind', it is made into very 
effective canoe sails. Smaller strips are made, by the 
Creoles, into neat and often elaborate bird-cages. Stop- 
pers for bottles are cut from the same substance. 
The pith of the trunk itself is used, by the Warraus, 
as farine or sago ; and a tree having been cut down for 
this last purpose, a liquor much appreciated by the 
Indians, and really very palatable, is obtained from it in 
the following way : a hollow is scooped in the uppermost 
part of the stem as it lies prone, which hollow, having 
been protected from the sun by a covering of leaves, is 
found after a few hours to be full of sap, which presently 
ferments and forms a pleasant drink. It is said that 
sugar is occasionally prepared by the Indians from this 
sap. Moreover, when the felled tree begins to decay, 
the very large grubs of a beetle (Calandra) are found 
