Storia do Mogor 265.23.3

265.23.3

There is another class of palm-tree which is called Palmeira brava (the wild palm), which takes many years to grow. This tree produces fruit in the month of March, and the yield lasts up to August. Inside each fruit there are ordinarily three lumps of soft pith which are very refreshing. Eating them is useful in clearing the sight of those unable to see at night. In the same season it yields a liquid called sura, and it has the same effects as, and some resemblance to, the palm-tree juice already described. The spirits distilled from this palm-juice are the best. From the leaves they make fans, mats, sunshades, small baskets, and other curiosities. After the fruit has ripened the pith hardens, and the juice is drawn from the shell ; leaving this for a few days in the sun, it becomes a sort of marmalade, eaten by many of the natives in place of bread. From all these palm-trees good returns are obtained. [Pages 235 and 236 : I omit here a Japanese story of true-love, it being neither Indian nor historical.] [237] In the year one thousand six hundred and ninety-four, eight years after my arrival in Madras, there was a love-story in which I am sure the reader cannot fail to be interested, so I will give a resumé of it in a few words. There was in Madras a young man, born in the country, of humble parentage but lofty thoughts ; his name was Joao da Cunha. He became enamoured of a young lady, and, as it seemed to him, Fortune could not favour him better than by making her his wife.