TREES THAT TRAVEL 129 



lean nuts, especially those like the hard-shell wal- 

 nuts, are unfitted for long journeys. They are 

 unusually rich in oil which easily becomes rancid. 

 Even when buried, they are more liable to decay 

 than to sprout. 



The nuts are enthusiastic sailors. Not a few are 

 built along nautical lines and when dropped into 

 the water at once become small but seaworthy boats. 

 The cocoanut, the cashew and the mahogany all 

 make ocean voyages. Cocoanuts are covered with 

 a thick husk, and this husk has a waterproof en- 

 velope of hairs. As they float, the three "eyes" seem 

 to always remain on top. As soon as the nut falls 

 into the water a tiny shoot peeps from one of these 

 eyes and sends forth big leaves, which act as sails 

 to waft the craft along. Finally roots begin to 

 peep forth from the other two eyes and in a short 

 time this lucky passenger with sails and roots is 

 ready to land on an island and start to developing 

 into a genuine cocoanut tree. The cocoanut is such 

 a good sea traveller that it has planted colonies on 

 almost every reef in the warmer waters. However, 

 the cashew excels it in marine equipment. The 

 cashew has a double hull and an inner skin. Be- 

 tween the outer and the inner shells circulates a 

 black, waterproof juice, which Maud Going aptly 

 terms "calking between decks." The bladdernut 



