Transactions of the Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences . , whichlater proved to be a great curse to the colony, as an intoxicant. A A. E. Verrill—The Bermuda Islands. 597 little later, the people were not content with tapping the trees forthe sap, but cut down the largest ones to extract the entire pulp andjuice from the interior to make this drink, which was at first usedonly as a fermented beverage. It was, however, decidedly intoxica-ting and led to much drunkenness and disorder. ^-,JSr?Sv^^^ C H. Figure 40.—Palmetto: a, berries, part of a cluster ; 6, section ; c, male flowers ;c?, p
Transactions of the Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences . , whichlater proved to be a great curse to the colony, as an intoxicant. A A. E. Verrill—The Bermuda Islands. 597 little later, the people were not content with tapping the trees forthe sap, but cut down the largest ones to extract the entire pulp andjuice from the interior to make this drink, which was at first usedonly as a fermented beverage. It was, however, decidedly intoxica-ting and led to much drunkenness and disorder. ^-,JSr?Sv^^^ C H. Figure 40.—Palmetto: a, berries, part of a cluster ; 6, section ; c, male flowers ;c?, parts of a male flower; e, a stamen. After Hemsley. In 1627, a law was passed prohibiting the cutting of the pal-mettoes for this manufacture, except by dixe warrant. But like mostmodern laws against intemperance, tKis law was not altogetherefficient, for later the natives even learned how to distill it andmake an aqua-vitae, which was a bad kind of strong rum or* vino. Complaints were made at that time that the tallest andbest palmettoes were being rapidly and recklessly destroyed for thisuse. Another more stringent law was passed in 1652 against cuttingthe trees for this purpose, and others in 1662, 1666, and 1668. Thisliquor is said to have made men Avildly, madly, and dangerouslydiunk. In October, 1662, the Bermuda Company ordered the palmettoesto be preserved on the small islands so as to afford leaves for thatch-ing the houses, as follows : Ffor preventing the great mischiefethat is like to
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1860, booksubjectscience, bookyear1866
