THE PALMS OF ASIA, 145 



a fruit about the size of a pullet's egg, which 

 consists of a hard stone or kernel, enveloped by 

 a firm white pulp, Avhich is covered by thick 

 husks, in colour not unlike the back of an adder. 

 This fruit has a strong odour, a mealy and acid 

 flavour, which is much esteemed by the natives, 

 ■\vho cultivate it extensively in their gardens. 



The hist of the Asiatic palms which we have 

 specially to mention is the Lodoicea Sechellarum, 

 a palm of singular character, and confined to 

 two or three of that group of islands lying to 

 the north of ^Madagascar, known by the name 

 of the Seychelles. Many centuries before the 

 islands were discovered its existence was known, 

 in consequence of its remarkable nuts being 

 often thrown on the shores of the Maklive 

 islands, whither they were carried by the 

 oceanic currents. No tree being known to 

 produce such nuts, it was supposed, and cur- 

 rently affirmed, that the tree which bore them 

 grev/ at the bottom of the sea ; and the votaries 

 of Vishnoo devoutly believed that when that 

 deity was churning the ocean, he broke off 

 several of the branches from the tree that they 

 might float on the surface, and be a specific for 

 all the ills that afflict mankind. From this 

 fable it acquired the name of coco do mar., by 

 which name it is known still. From the 



