1 79 1- ACCOUNT OF THE ISLAND SAMAR. 5 I 



Taboti's * neft, and is fometimes fo lucky as to light 

 upon no fewer than forty in one hoard ; but from the 

 fliort experience that I had of this aliment, I thought it 

 heavy and indigeftibie. 



" From the lap of the cocoa; nipe, and cobonegro- 

 trees, they obtain the materials for an excellent fpecies 

 of brandy. The laft of thefe owes its name to the 

 black colour of its fibres, which are manufa£lured by 

 the natives into cables and different kinds of cordage. 

 Another article of Indian food is the fubftance of the 

 cocoa-nut, which is eaten in the firft ftage of congela- 

 tion ; for after it becomes folid, and acc]uires in fome 

 degree the tafte of a frelh almond, it ceafes to be ecjualr 

 ly digeftible. 



" The only inftrument ufed by the Indian, either for 

 the purpofes of war or induftry, is a kind of couteau-de- 

 chajfe, named, as is above-mentioned, cris^ or campV.an , 

 an inrtrument which, after ferving him agalnft the ene- 

 my, enables him to cut down the largeft tree in the 

 wood, to be formed into a canoe, or fplit into deals for 

 more ordinary ufes. When the campilan is fo much 

 worn as to be of little further fervice to him, it is (till 

 employed by his wife to grub up a light foil, in which 

 flie plants yams, potatoes, and other roots. In a fpace 

 of two months they are dug up in a ftate of maturity, 

 and of a wonderful fize ; iufomuch, that within the 



• The Talon our author dcfcribes asau animal nnbijjger than a tur- 

 tle dove, whofe eggs are as large as thofe of a goofe. When the female 

 tabon is about to lay (he makes a deep, winding hole in the fand, and 

 having depofited her cgjj, inftantly fills it up, and fmooths over the fiir- 

 face as before. In procefs of time the fun, having hatched the eggs, the 

 chicks begin to fcratch their way for the light, but in this attempt many 

 of them perifh. 



One of the greateft benefits to be derived from travels h, that of ob- 

 taining a knowlcdije of fuch animals and vegerables as may become ufe- 

 ful to man ; fo that I confidcr thofe who dcfcribe thefe with care, aS 

 among the great benefadlOrs of the human race. In this view our au- 

 thor will occupy a confiderablc rank, though neither a pnofcfled zoolo- 

 gift nor botaniR : — but Dampicr continue* llili to hold the firll rai k 

 among this clafs of writers. — Edit. 



G 2 



