HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
m 
other, and form a mass like that of a cabbage. It is about two feet in height, and 
of the same thickness as the trunk. The large outward leaves of this mass are white, 
sweet, supple, and strong: they may be used as goat skins, when skilfully dressed ; 
or linen, or satin, or napkins and towels; such is their various utility. The mem¬ 
branes or leaves of the heart are tender and crisp, like that of a lettuce: it may be 
eaten raw, and tastes like a nut; and forms an admirable ragout, when dressed with 
the fat and liver of the land turtle. 
“ The nectar of this island is the palm wine, so well known throughout the Indies. 
There were two modes employed to obtain it: we sometimes made an hole, about 
five inches diameter, in the trunk of the tree, at the height of about six feet, and a 
vessel being suspended under it, was soon filled with this pleasant liquor: at other 
times the cabbage was scooped out of the tree; by which operation a cistern was 
formed on the top, from whence two or three times a day the juice might be drawn. 
Either way the liquor was equally good; but in order to spare the trees, the first 
method is the best ; as after the reservoir, formed by the removal of the cabbage, 
has furnished its liquor for about a month, the tree becomes so exhausted as to de¬ 
cline and die. But the incision, if not made too deep, is not attended with any fatal 
effects: the liquor will not however flow from one aperture more than four days, 
when the tree must be left to recover its strength: besides, if a very large wound 
should be made, it may weaken the trunk to such a degree as to disable it from 
resisting the hurricanes. 
“ The Latanier (Corypba umbraculifera , Linn.) is placed by botanists in the 
class of palm trees. In the Isle of Rodriguez this tree has a strait trunk, formed, as 
it appears, of a succession of large rings of equal thickness, with a smooth bark. At 
the top there is cabbage similar to that which has been j ust described ; at the bottom of 
which several large leaves shoot forth, whose stalks are six or seven feet in length. 
These leaves are strong and thick, and resemble an open fan; some of them are 
eight feet in diameter, so that they form an excellent covering for houses: they may 
also be shaped into hats and' umbrellas. The stalk, which is hollow, is four fingers 
broad, and upwards of an inch thick, and rather round on the sides: the extremity 
of it, which springs from the tree, and in a great measure embraces it, presents a 
large and concave shape, which is sometimes more than a foot in diameter, is about 
the thickness of a crown piece, and was made to serve the purpose of plates and 
dishes. The exterior rind of this stalk may be employed for ropes, and the fibres 
