and the Arcca-vut Tree. 323 



tcrcbras : this insect ctu!cavovn-s to penetrate into the cab- 

 bage, where it finds abundant nourishment, of which it 

 appears to be fond. 



To get afthc heart, which nature has carefullv covered, 

 as it seems to contain the vital principle of the tree, this 

 winged beetle is obliged to pierce one of the petioles of the 

 pahns, that it may open a passage to the food of which it 

 IS in search :• but it cannot perform this operation without 

 leaving truces behind it, whicii are readily perceived by bare 

 inspection of the tree. The cliana, as soon as he sees a 

 liole newly opened, first probes it with an iron dart, barbed 

 at the point, in order to kill the mischievous insect, and 

 to extract it from its retreat, where it might do injury even 

 after its death. 



In other respects nature takes charge of the cultivation 

 till the moment when the tree produces its first snath, or 

 the fiower-bud; which is the case at most in its fifth year, 

 if it has been constantly watered ; or towards the end of the 

 seventh or eighth, when it has been left merely to the 

 rain. 



The land occupied by this useful vegetable not onlv 

 yields a more beneficial produce than if it were applied to 

 any other kind of agriculture, but the most barren soil is 

 improved by it ; shaded by ths immense palms of this tree, 

 they arc forced to produce good grass, and in the course of 

 a few years to become fit for cultivation. 



- Though the coco-nut tree has produced oval spaths or 

 buds, which arc generally about from twenty-four to twen- 

 ty-eight inches in leueth, and about two or three inches in 

 thickness, in tiie middle ; of an elliptical fojm, a little bent 

 and pointed, inclosing a panicle charged with a great 

 number ot small flowers, some of which are succeeded bv 

 Iruit of a greater or less size, according to the species ; the 

 Hindoos do not immediately endeavour to procure from it 

 that liquor called calou, from a Tamulic word, which we 

 have adopted. 



It is only at the end of the fifth or sixth month, when 

 the tree is vigorous; or the tenth or twelfth, w'hcn it is 

 weak, that this liquor is extracted from it. This practice is 

 dictated by prudence, that the tree n)ay not be enervated; 

 as by a ditlerent management it would soon be exhausted. 

 Strong palms send forth in general nine, ten, and even 

 twelve buds in the year; those on which little care has 

 been bestowed, and which therefore are feeble, produce 

 only four, or at most five. This fact conlinns all the ob- 

 X 3 servations 



