The Palm, Caryota urens, Linn., is a native of Ceylon, Malabar, Bengal, Assam, and various parts of India. Amongst natives of Ceylon it is known as Kitool; in India it is called Bastard Sago, Coonda pauna (Tamil); Erimpana, or Schundra-pana (Mai.).

It is a beautiful and lofty palm, with a trunk more than a foot in diameter, and 40 feet high. The large bipinnatisect leaves measure 18 feet to 20 feet in length, and 10 to 12 feet across. The fruit is of the size of a plum, with a thin yellow rind, and is very burning and acrid in taste. From the flower-stem an enormous amount of sweet juice can be obtained; as much as 100 pints in twenty-four hours. From this juice Jaggery sugar well known in our markets, is prepared, although it is not the only source, other palm trees yielding it in commercial quantities. The caste who prepare this sugar in Ceylon are known as Jaggeros. The juice is also pleasant to drink when fresh, and an intoxicating spirit, known variously as toddy, arrack, pauna, or pawnee, is obtained by fermentation, and largely used.

The pith of the stem contains a large amount of farinaceous matter, equal to Sago in quality. The natives use this largely for food in the shape of gruel, or a kind of bread. Like its relative, the Cocoanut, Kitool Palm is a source of food and profit to its owner. Elephants make of the leaves their favorite food, and the " heart," or expanded leaves, can be made into a capital cabbage, or pickled, or candied. The woolly substance at the base of the leaves is used in caulking ships.

The fibres or veins of the leaves furnish the Kitool fibre, and it is largely used by the natives for the making of ropes, fishing-lines, bow-strings, brushes, brooms, baskets, caps, etc. Its great strength has earned for it the name of Elephant fibre, and ropes made of Kitool are used to tether and secure wild elephants.

The fibre has long been known in this country, and under the name of Indian gut has long been used for fishing-lines. When made into brushes it is found to be most durable, and some firms will not use brushes made of any other material. It seems to be the best substitute for bristles, as the fibre is strong, tough, and impervious to water. It is, however, rather brittle, and a sudden knock may break it. It can be woven together with cotton for petticoat stuffs, and forms a cheap and flexible fabric for dress-improvers, etc. Steamed and curled, it can be used for stuffing purposes in upholstery, and the refuse may be used instead of hair to mix with mortar for building purposes. When dipped in oil it turns from a dull brown to a beautiful black color, and the oiliness may be removed. - Journal 0/ the Society of Arts.