94 THE PALMS OF ASIA. 



wet and rank from its position, was of a most 

 luxuriant cliaracter ; a few deep drains were 

 opened through the centre, cross drains were 

 cut, and after one season's exposure to the puri- 

 fying action of tlie atniospliere and rain, the 

 whole of it was planted, and it now gives fair 

 promise of being one day the finest field in the 

 plantation. 



"From tliis low ground I strolled through 

 some long avenues on the right ; their long 

 leaves protected me from the heat of the after- 

 noon sun, which was still considerable. Tlie 

 trees on this side were evidently older ; they 

 had a greater number of rii^e fruit ; and further 

 away in the distance might be seen a multitude 

 of men and boys, busily engaged in bearing 

 away the huge nuts in pairs to a path, or rude 

 cart-track, where a cangany, or native overseer, 

 was occupied in counting them as they were 

 tossed into the bullock cart. The expertness of 

 the boys in climbing these smooth, broken, and 

 branchless trees, by the aid of a small band 

 formed by twisting a portion of a cocoa nut 

 leaf, was truly astonishing. In a moment, their 

 small feet grasped the trunk, aided by a twisted 

 loaf, whilst their hands were employed above ; 

 they glided ui)wards, and wilh a quick eye 

 detected the riper fruit, which, rapid!}' twisted 



