HISTORY OF THE SEA COCOA-NUT. 937 



and untivenereal." Dymock mentions t.liah in Bombay it is prescribed 

 as a tonic and febrif'nse in combination with Lionnm colnbrinum 

 (the small branches of 8trychnos colubrina, Tj.). It is also believed to 

 possess several other pro})erties. " Daryali-naryal '' says S. A. Ravat, 

 " is corrupted in Bomhay into Jehari-naryal which means ' poisonous 

 Gocoa-nut, ' and it is believed to be so by the common people. It is, 

 however, non-poisonous, and is commonly given to children, mixed with 

 the root of Nux vomica, for colic. It seems to act mechanically, like 

 Bismuth. " Rubbed up with water, it is given by natives to check 

 diarrhoea and vomiting, especially in cholera. Some believe that the 

 water of the green fruit or its soft kernel is antibilious and anhicid when- 

 taken after meals. ^ 



It is to be regretted that the tree is not cultivated, and that a prac- 

 tice has prevailed of cutting it down in order to get at the fruit and 

 teuder leaves, and it is to be feared that this will lead to the extinction 

 of the Sea Cocoa-nut, which will become in reality as rare as it was 

 supposed to be by the travellers who picked up the hrst known speci- 

 mens of its nuts floating on the sea. 



1 Cf. Watt. Diet, of Econ. Prod, of India, Vol, V. 88. 



