History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c36.s2.8

v1.c36.s2.8

(3) *Palm-leaves (tāḍa-patra)*: For writing manuscripts palm- leaves *tāḍa* or *tāla* (borassus flabelliformis) and *tāḍa* or *tāli* (corypha umbraculifera or *C. taliera*) were widely used, specially in southern India. About the use of palm-leaves for writing upon, Al-Bīrūnī (*Ibid*) has observed, “The Hindus have, in the south of their country, a slender tree like the date and coconut palms, bearing edible fruits and leaves of the length of one yard and as broad as three fingers, one put beside the other. They call these leaves *tārī* (Sanskrit *tāli* or *tāḍi*) and write on them.”