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Talipot leaves in rain or shine

Concluding the names of tree species and their products associated with Sri Lanka included in the second editions of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED2) and Hobson-Jobson (H-J2)

kumbuk (1843). "[Sinhala.] A name used in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) for the arjun, Terminalia arjuna, an Indian evergreen tree of the family Combretaceae."

The earliest reference given in the OED2, dated 1869, is from a botanical work. However there is an earlier or antedating reference from English literature pertaining to Sri Lanka, for J. W. Bennett writes in Ceylon and its Capabilities (1843:268): "The Kombookan-Aar takes its name from the innumerable Kombook trees that border its banks. The timber is a sort of zebra-wood, which, but for the distance from ports of export, might be turned to good account as an article of commerce."

James Emerson Tennent provides another early reference in Ceylon (1859:I.82): "The Kumbuk of the Singhalese is one of the noblest and most widely distributed trees in the island; it delights in the banks of rivers and moist borders of tanks and canals; it overshadows the stream of the Mahawelli-ganga, almost from Kandy to the sea; and it stretches its great arms above the still water of the lakes on the eastern side of the island."

Ananda K. Coomaraswamy writes in Mediaeval Sinhalese Art (1907:65) regarding the Kandyan method of instruction in drawing: "The pupil learnt to draw, using for his pencil the spine of a sea-urchin mounted in a bamboo handle; or failing that, a pointed style of kumbuk bark."

The most recent or postdating reference given in the OED2 is from the Ceylon Observer (September 19, 1971): "She had heard the beast sigh loudly behind the great big kumbuk tree."

petwood (1866). Sinhala halmilla. "[Corruption of Burmese name hpet-wun or pet-woon.] A large timber tree, Berrya Ammonilla (Berrya cordifolia) or mollis, N.O. Tiliaceae, found in Burma, southern India, Sri Lanka, the Philippines; also its timber, called also Trincomalee wood."

The earliest reference given in the OED2 reads: "The Trincomalee wood . . . Petwun, Burmese; Halmillila, halmilla, Cingalese, (whence the specific name)."

There are no other references relevant to Sri Lanka. Indeed the name petwood is rare if not absent from English literature pertaining to Sri Lanka. There are, however, a number of references to the synonym Trincomalee wood and indeed the Sinhala name halmilla. For instance, Suckling (1876:II.354) explains: "The 'hallmillia' (Berrya amomilla) is a fine straight tree about forty feet high, with winged seeds, found chiefly in the drier parts of the island, and exported in large quantities from Trincomalee to India, where it is known as Trincomalee wood."

Then there is Alan Walters, who writes in Palms and Pearls, Or Scenes in Ceylon (1892:240): "The Halmileel or Halmilla (Berrya amornilla), called sometimes Trincomalee wood, valuable for cask staves, and growing with straight stem to a height of 40 feet; from it are made the Madras surf boats."

The OED2 records the synonym Trincomalee wood in the entry for Trincomalee, and gives the following reference from the Treasury of Botany (1866:138): "The tree (Berrya Ammonilla) is a native of the Philippine Islands and Ceylon . . . and is considered the best wood in the island for making oil casks . . . It is exported in large quantities under the name of Trincomalee wood."

stink-tree (1795). Sinhala telambu. "Some tree native to Sri Lanka, having a disgusting odour."

The OED2 definition is deficient in that the species concerned - Sterculia foetida - is not identified. The sole reference given comes from Thunberg's Travels (1795:IV.234): "The stink-tree was called by the Dutch Strunt-hout . . . on account of its disgusting odour, which resides especially in the thick stem and the larger branches."

The earliest reference I have found from English literature pertaining to Sri Lanka is by Suckling (1876:II.391-2): "The 'telimboo' (Sterculia foetida) has received from the Europeans the well deserved name of stink tree, in consequence of the odour of putrid carcasses that proceeds from its dull crimson flowers. The fruit is very curious, being a leather-like case the shape of a ham, of a fine crimson colour, containing a number of black seeds arranged in a circular manner inside; they are roasted and eaten by the natives, both in Ceylon and India."

talipot (1681). "[adoption of Sinhalese talapata, Malayalim talipat = Hindi talpat: - Sanskrit talapattra, leaf of the tala palmyra, or fan-palm, Borassus flabelliformis transferred in Sri Lanka and Southern India to the leaf of Corphya umbraculifera.] A South Indian fan-palm, Corphya umbraculifera, native in Sri Lanka and Malabar, noted for its great height, and its enormous fan-shaped leaves which are much used as a material to write on."

It seems that Robert Knox, the first person to use the word in the English language, was responsible for misapplying the Sinhala name of the leaf of this palm - talapata - to the palm itself, which is known as talagaha. No doubt this was because talapata was applied to four common articles in the Kandyan Kingdom, all of which were made from the extraordinary leaf of the talagaha: namely strips for writing on, otherwise known as ollas, fans, umbrellas, and tents. Knox's error is compounded by such attributives as talipot-leaf, talipot-palm, and talipot-tree, which are common in English literature pertaining to Sri Lanka and even included in the OED2 entry.

Knox writes in An Historical Relation of Ceylon (1681.15): "The first is the Tallipot; It is as big and tall as a Ships Mast, and very streight, bearing only Leaves: which are of great use and benefit to this People; one single Leaf being so broad and large, that it will cover some fifteen or twenty men, and keep them dry when it rains . . . It is wonderful light, they cut them into pieces, and carry them in their hands. The whole leaf spread is round almost like a circle, but being cut in pieces for use are near like unto a Triangle: They lay them upon their heads as they travel with the peaked end foremost, which is convenient to make their way thro the Boughs and Thickets. When the Sun is vehement hot they use them to shade themselves from the heat. Souldiers all carry them; for besides the benefit of keeping them dry in case it rain upon the march, these leaves make their Tents to ly under in the Night."

The first reference after Knox is dated 1837 and has no direct relevance to Sri Lanka. However a number of earlier interdating quotations can be found in English literature pertaining to Sri Lanka. For example Robert Percival writes in An Account of the Island of Ceylon (1803(Ibid.xiv.326) "The talipot bears a large yellow flower, which, when ripe, bursts with a loud noise, and diffuses a disagreeable and unwholesome smell. It is on this account that the natives will not place their huts near it. The fruit is of a round form, and about the size of a cannon-ball: it contains two nuts of the same shape. But it is from the leaves that the talipot derives its high estimation."

The postdating quotation given in the OED2 is by Tennent (1859[1977].I.91): "The most majestic and wonderful of the palm tribe is the talpat or talipat, the stem of which sometimes attains the height of 100 feet, and each of its enormous fan-like leaves, when laid upon the ground, will form a semicircle of 16 feet in diameter, and cover an area of nearly 200 superficial feet."

However there are later references in English literature pertaining to Sri Lanka. For example Suckling (1876:II.314) notes: "The talipat or talla-gass of the Sinhalese (Corypha umbraculifera) is one of the most graceful and majestic of trees, shooting up from the earth nearly as straight as an arrow to a height often of 90 and 100 feet, with a cluster at the top of large leaves exactly like a circular fan opened out hanging from a long stalk, the whole surmounted when in blossom by a cone of golden-coloured flowers about fifteen feet high."

Harry Williams, writing in Ceylon Pearl of the East (1950[1963]:221), provides a more modern reference and a variant spelling: "There is the talypot, or great fan palm, most majestic and beautiful of all the palm tribe, with gigantic fan-shaped leaves one of which is said to provide cover for twenty men."

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