Storia do Mogor 265.23.2

265.23.2

Having finished talking of the palm-tree's fruit, I will now speak of its juice, called by the Indians sura. When they want to draw the liquid, it is first necessary to open the flower, it being then in its rind ; the end is cut, and then they begin to depress the whole flower in order to collect the juice, and fixing it, they attach to the end an earthen cup into which the substance drips. This is done twice a day, and each flower yields each time twenty ounces, more or less, of the distillation. When drunk fresh it is sweet and suave, but kept for twelve hours, it tastes like beer and goes to the head. It is used by the Indians in place of wine. From this liquid are manufactured aqua ardente, vinegar, and sugar. The Indians ascend and descend these trees by clinging to the trunk and putting round it a rope of fibre, and into its ends they place their feet.