THE PALMS OF ASIA. 85 



Datives of tlie country can rarely be clepenclocl 

 on as protectors of property against their fellow- 

 villagers. A narrow belt of jungle, trees, 

 and shrubs, had been left quite round the plan- 

 tation, to assist in keeping out cattle and wild 

 animals, which are frequently very destruc- 

 tive to a 3'oung cocoa nut estate, in spite of 

 armed watchers, ditches, and fences. Passing 

 through this belt, I found, on entering, an 

 entirely new scene ; before and around me 

 waved gracefully the long, shining leaves of 

 three hundred acres of cocoa palms, each acre 

 containing, on an average, eighty palms. It was 

 indeed a beautiful and interesting si^ht. Two- 

 thirds of these trees were yielding ample crops, 

 though only in their ninth year ; in two years 

 more they will generally be in full bearing. 

 Unlike the rudely planted native garden, this 

 estate had been most carefully laid down ; the 

 young plants had all been placed out at regular 

 intervals, and in perfectly straight lines ; so that 

 looking over the estate in either direction the 

 long avenues presented one unbroken figure, at 

 once pleasing to the eye and easy of access. 

 But if these interminable masses of palms 

 appeared a lovely picture when regarded at 

 some distance, how much was their beauty 

 lieightencd on a nearer inspection. Walking 



