Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-08-29

10 dtOn the DANGER, IesOtNeu " ~ " his seat 10
the country. His coach and six were according.
ly at the door, his baggage put up, and all things
IN readiness for the journey.
As he was walking through the hall with his
hat on. his cane under his rm,and putting on his
gloves in order to step into his carriage, he over
heard his negro (wh0 served him as pOstlllion)
saying to another servant, 81 suppose, by my
lords quitting London to avoid the plague, that
his God lives in the country, and not in town."
The poor negro said this in the simplicity of his
heart, as really believing plurality of Gods
The speech, however, struck Lord Craven very
sensby, and made him pause. "My Cod
thought he, - lives every where, and can pre-
serve me in town as we'll as in the country; I'll
even sta, where am. The ignorance Of that
negro has preached useful sermon to me. Lord
pardon that unbeIieI and that dstrust Of thy pro.
vdence which made me think Ut running away
from thy hand" He Immediately ordered the
horses TO be taken OF from the coach, aud the
luggage to be brought in. He continued in Lou.
don; was remarkably useful among his sick ncis ii.
bOrs, and never caught the infection.
The Palm or Teddy Tree-.The most exteu.
siyeIy useful tree in India, and probably in t.o
world, is the palm tree. In India have only
observed four species. LIST. The c0cus nucifera.
u is
western coast, near the sea, as far north as Su
rat: some are found even more to the northward
adly. The tonaSSus .Ra6elHfornlis, which the ma
tives call the star" is also in great numbers as
far up as Clutch; have myself seen it so miles
from the sea; but believe it is to be found at
much greater distance. 3dly. The phGnir dac.
tyHtera, or date palm. is common all the way up
the coast from Cape Cormorin to Clutch. and is
found several miles inland. 4thly. The areca,
which is cultivated only on account Of the nut,
is found in gardens in Bombay. Baroda, &c. SC.
Every part Of the cocoa-nut tree is used for
some purpose or other. The nut is well known.
and is not only an indispensable ingredient in
every article Of native cookery, curries, pilaws.
&c, !; but yields by expression (when dried al
oil which is superior to linseed oil for burning.
both as having less smell and producing in the
combustion no visible smoke. The natives also
anoint themselves all over with it. The shells
of the cocoa-nut, when burnt to charcoal and
pounded, are used 10 paint like lamp black IN
England. The hard or inner shell of the nut
forms their drinking cup as well as a material part
of their smoking apparatus: half full Of water with
two hollow bamboos fitted into as many holes Dor.
ed in it, and an earthen chilum" at the top
full of tobacco. it forms their "hukka," compa-
Mon which no native would willingly be without
The outer shell consists Of stringy substance
called 8: coir." pronounced 'kyar." 1t is equal
to horse hair for stufing mattresses, pillows,
&C., and when formed into ropes is 10 some re.
spects equal. and in others superior to hempen
cordage, being much lighter, more elastic, and not
so likely to be damaged by wet. The leaves Of
this, as well as Of the "tar" tree, when dried ard
ing under the thatch ofhousea, By which a much
ctn lor ntitu ofp will su&eo 'Thov
sometimes used without grass. but then require
to be renewed annually. The body of the tree
is Of much service when followed out. as a course
to conduct water across road, or ''nuIIa," (the
dry bed Of rIvuIet or mountain torrent.) for the
purpose Of irrisatng lands at distance from the
well, or tank from whence the water is drawn
But to the owner Of the property the most va.
liable part Of the palm tree is the toddy. The
best and sweetest is extracted from the date
palm; the cocoa nut tree yields the next best,
which however. as well as that obtained from the
s. tar" or fsn-leaf PALM (as believe it is called
is more abundant than the former; it is never To.
ken from the areca. This liquor is thus obtain.
ell. At sunset, man of the Runddrree caste
Of Hndoos mounts the tree with two or three
parthern pots. called =" chatty." capable of con.
tanning about a gallon each, tied to his waist, and
a large knife Z ed like sickle, in his hand
He is assisted IN his mounting 5y two circular
pieces of rope. large enough to extend round
when doubIed) two thirds Of the circumference
Of the tree, one Of them being attached to hi.
band, and the other to his feet. by which means
he ascends the tree without the assistance Of his
knees. Some of these trees, should guess, are
above one hundred feet in height; and one man
has twice daily to ascend and descend some four
teen or FIFTEEN, or even more Of them. He cuts
Df one of the leaves of the tree when the stalk is
about two inches in diameter, and ties on one Of
these cbatty pots. If the leaf has before been
cut of for the extraction Of the teddy, be only
moves half an inch from the cad Of the stalk.
whence the toddy again exudes.
After having thus fixed his pots, sometimes
three or four on one tree, he dcscends the tree,
md mounts many more as may be necessary.
In the morning. at day break, he-returns to tho
trees. takes down the pots, which are half full Of
liquor. and places others in their stead This
liquor. which. when fresh from the tree, is call.
I'd "neera," is as transparent as water, and Of
pleasant, sweet taste; but Immediately the sun
rises, il begins to ferment, after which it becomes
IF q milky color tart and sourish--it ia then