The greater portion of these is consumed in India.
Two varieties of palms remain to be described--the date and the sago.
The former is a miserable species, which does not exceed the height of three to five feet, and the fruit is perfectly worthless.
The latter is indigenous throughout the jungles in Ceylon, but it is neither cultivated, nor is the sago prepared from it.
The height of this palm does not exceed fifteen or twenty feet, and even this is above the general average.

It grows in the greatest profusion in the Veddah country.

The stem is rough and a continuation of rings divides it into irregular sections.

The leaves are a rich dark green, and very light and feathery, beneath which the nuts grow in clusters similar to those of the areca palm.
The only use that the natives make of the produce of this tree is in the preparation of flour from the nuts.

Even this is not very general, which is much to be wondered at, as the farina is far superior in flavor to that produced from most grains.
The natives ascribe intoxicating properties to the cakes made from this flour; but I have certainly eaten a fair allowance at one time, and I cannot say that I had the least sensation of elevation.
The nut, which is something similar to the areca in size, is nearly white when divested of its outer husk, and this is soaked for about twenty-four hours in water.