Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1904 edition. Excerpt: ...to the ground they are divided down the midrib into two equal sections; these, after three or four days' exposure in the sun are immersed for about fortyeight hours in water to soften, and then plaited by women into mats of the simplest description. Placed one above another upon rude rafters, and roughly tied together with coconut fibre, those mats or cadjans are almost universally used in this country for thatching houses, sheds, &c being nearly impervious to rain and solar rays, and yet nntenacious of the heat generated in the erection. These are also manufactured into baskets of all descriptions. The green leaf is excellent food for cows and elephants. The natives on festival days are fond of ornamenting their houses, mosques, or pagodas, with chains of the young white leaflets, and attach them to trees on either side of the roads in a most picturesque manner. The midrib of the branch is employed as a paddle, and even that of the leaflet is much used for bristles, toothpicks, pens, arrows, torches and brooms. The natives of Travancore were at one time subject to a frightful torture with it. Around the thumb longitudinally a number of long pieces of it were placed carefully, bound round tightly with cord, or slips of the leaflet, and when swelling ensued, each piece was drawn out very slowly causing excruciating agony to the wretched victim. The spathe is about two feet long at maturity when fit for tapping. On cutting it open a number of small white beans are discovered, beautifully arranged in a lump exactly like Egyptian corn; but, upon carefully abstracting the whole from the sheaf they are found collected in clusters round slender branches which now fall over with their burthen in the most graceful manner. After the case..."
