The Natural Hiflory of JAM ALC A 
Pyrara de laVal, wholiv’d feveral Years in the Muldi 
sgh aéves Mlands, and 
by his own Experience knew more of this Tree than any 
| Writer I know of, 
tells us that there it is, p. 3. p. 22.called Rowl, in Malabar Tengua, Guza 
ratte Narquilly, by the Portuguefe Palmero, and Fruit Cocos, it grows only in 
the Torrid Zone, tho? there not every where; more in the Maldives than in 
any other Part; they are forced to cut them down to make Room for 
Houfes, which they fuffer them not near, becaufe the Winds fometimes 
blow them down on their Houfes, and kill the Inhabitants in them ; Rats 
cat Holes in them when green for Meat and Drink, whereby they dry 
and fall, often killing thofe about them, becaufe of the Height, with 
their Weight; fo that in the Defert Ifles the Ground is covered with 
them, but not fo where the Ifles are inhabited, becaufe when fo dry’d they 
make good Fuel. Ants make their Tracks at their Feet, and carry the 
Barth from them, whence they fall, p. 23. They Stow twenty Toifes 
high, 46. The under half of the Tree is good for Building and Shipping, 
the under Part 3 Foot high, where ’tis thicket makes a Trough for Honey or 
Water. 24, 50 Cocos are{ometimes in a Bunch,a Bunch comes every Month. 
ib. It loves moift and fandy Ground. 24. and does not come well within 
Land. 24. if no Water bein it, and it be too dry, it will not grow. 
The whole Fruit muft be planted, otherways it colrupts. 25. when Wa- 
ter fhakes on ttriking on it, or not, it is a Sign of its being ripe or not. 25) 
The Middle Rib cleaves and makes Laths and Palifades, éc. 25. the 
Leaves ferve for Thatch. 26. with Stiles they write on them as Paper, 26, 
they are. ufed for Sails. +, Mats, Hats, Panniers and Parafols, 4. and 
every thing ufually in Erope made of Ofier or Willow, 76. little Baskets; 
Brooms and Coffers are made of the middle Ribs of it, 26. Javelins are 
made of the middle Ribs tyed together and lacker’d, 27. they make Pins of 
them likewife, 2d. and fteep theBark of the Fruit or Husks fomewhat green, 
peel’d from the Nuts to make Ropes or Oakam,it is to lie 3 Weeks in theSea 
Water cover’d with Sand, then theInhabirants beat it asHemp orFlax with 
wooden Mallets. 4. make Match of it when the Fruit iS ripe, which is not 
foak’d and beat,but fpun with all its Subftance, then they boil it withA thes 
and ufe it for Match all over thelndies, except where Cocos are {carce, where 
they ufe Cotton, 28. Pots, Spoons, or Cups are made of the Shell, 2b. and 
Forge Coal. 7. The Kernel is eat as Bread with other Victuals, and 
grated and pre({s’d, it gives Milk, as fugar’d Milk or Almond Milk, and 
with Honey or Sugar is drank fafting, and is their only purging Medicine, 
28. This Milk boil’d, thickens and turns into Oil fit for Fricafees, ¢c. 
for Lamps and for curing Ulcers, 29. The Author was cured with it; it is 
alfo good for the Itch. From.a yellow Oil it grows a white Butter, being 
kept three Months, to be ufed.as Oil: The Marc or dry Part of the Kernel 
prefs’d, with Honey and Sugar, isus’d to make Preferves, 29, when very 
young, Husk and all is eat like an Apple, but this is only one Kind, which 
is not good when ripe, 33. they make Quarts or Meafures of the Spatha, 
and. Conferves of the Flowers, 30. The Membrane between the Leaves, is 
good to make Sacks and alfo Sieves to ftrain things thro’, 30. the Indians 
cut the flowering Footftalk a Foot high, and get a fort of Wine, a Quarta 
Day for fix Months, they boil it with fome clear white Stones found in the 
Sea, and make it intoHoney or Sugar, 30, and with other Stones itis made 
whiter, 7b. they make good Arack, 31. and good Vinegar of it, 2b. the 
Drawing this Liquor fpoils the Fruit of the Tree, 31. the tender Top 
three Foot in Length is good to eat, ib. the ripe Fruit left in moiit 
Places or in the Ground three Weeks or a Month, the Sprout or 
Germen, is good Meat and very tender, 31. they dry the Kernel to 
fend it to Arabia, &c. by dividing the Nutin two, and expoling it to a 
oils : 
