THE COCONUT BELT 29 



and protection from strong winds all of which 

 advantages are obtainable on the Malabar Coast. 

 There fresh water is invariably found at a depth of 

 from 6 to 10 ft., while the annual rains bring down 

 a mass of vegetable matter from the forests on the 

 slopes of the Ghautz range of mountains which is 

 deposited over the land. The mountains them- 

 selves form a natural wind-screen for the palms. 

 Thus the Malabar Coast is recognised as one of the 

 finest coconut-growing regions in the world, its 

 products commanding the highest prices in the 

 market; such superiority, in the case of copra, 

 ranging from 2 10s. to 4 per ton over any copra 

 produced elsewhere. The percentage of fat yielded 

 by copra depends mainly upon the quality of the 

 coconut. That exported from Malabar gives the 

 highest yield and produces the best quality fat, the 

 following being the percentages : Malabar, 68 per 

 cent, (it requires only slight refining and the yield 

 of oil has been as high as 80 per cent.) ; Ceylon and 

 West Africa, 65 per cent. ; West Indies, 63 per cent. ; 

 Dutch East Indies, 62 per cent. ; Australasia, 60 per 

 cent. ; Manilla, 59 per cent. Apart from the fore- 

 going natural advantages, the reputation for excel- 

 lence achieved by the products of Malabar has 

 resulted, in a certain measure, from the remarkable 

 care with which the planters and merchants culti- 

 vate and prepare the nut as compared with the 

 crude, careless, and sometimes really dirty methods 



