GOMUTI, or GOMUTO, or GUMUTI, known also as Areng, Ejoo or EA and Wine Palm (Arenga saccharifera), sago-palm of Ma lacca and the Malays, commonly cultivated in India and growing wild in Burma and Assam. It is cultivated for a variety of products. reaches a growth of from 20 to 40 feet tall with leaves from 15 to 25 feet long. The tree dies after flowering and producing its fruit and when the sago product is desired it is cut before it flowers, usually at an age between 10 and 15 years. The first product is that of the black horsehair-like fibres, known as the eju or gomuti fibre, which grow abundantly from the base of the leaves. The fibre is manu factured into cordage and is plaited for use as ornaments. It is not sufficiently pliable for running rigging but for other purposes is desirable because of its strength and impervious ness to the effects of water. The stiffer fibres are used as styles for writing on palm leaves; and within the sheaths is a woolly fibre, called barn, which is in demand in China for the caulking of boats, and is also used for filling cushions. The coarsest fibre is used for brush
making and thatching, and sandals are manu factured from the leaf. The sap is obtained by cutting the flowers and from it is manu factured palm wine, spirits, sugar and vinegar. The tree also furnishes Java sago; which, while inferior to that of the true sago-palm, is an important addition to the food supply through out the Malays. It is scarcely profitable for cultivation for its sugar, but the yield of sago is about 150 pounds per tree, and as 400 trees may be planted to the acre the yield is enormous. When the palm is permitted to flower and fruit it dies and the stem soon becomes hollow ; and as the wood is remarkable for its lasting qualities when subjected to immersion in water it is much used for troughs and watering chan nels, lasting well even when placed under ground.