82 THE MAKE ISLANDS. 



cocoa-nuts, soon reduced the value of this commodity; and 

 now, probably, by the Indians, as well as by the Europeans, 

 it is only sought as a matter of curiosity or for domestic 

 purposes. 



ESTHER. 



Where are the Seychelles Islands'? 



MRS. c. 



The Seychelles, or Mahe Islands, as they are sometimes 

 called, lie to the northeast of Madagascar. It is in this 

 group only, that the palm is found, and, even among them, 

 in no others than the Isle of Praslin and Curieuse, and Round 

 Island. These are within half a mile of each other, moun- 

 tainous and rocky, and the soil poor. The common cocoa- 

 nut occupies the sea-coast, but all other parts are, or have 

 been, entirely covered with Cocos de Mer. 



HENRIETTA. 



Is it a handsome palm"? 



MRS. c. 



Yes, remarkably so; its ordinary height is from fifty to 

 sixty feet, but it sometimes attains a hundred, scarcely differ- 

 ing in size to the very top, where it is crowned with a tuft of 

 from twelve to twenty leaves, of a bright yellow green, about 

 eight to ten feet long, and five to six feet wide; but some 

 have been measured as large as twenty feet. Twelve months 

 elapse before the fruits are fully ripe, and they have been 

 known to hang three years on the tree before falling on the 

 ground. 



MRS. F. 



That is like the oranges at Sorrento, near Naples, which 

 hang three years upon the trees. 



MRS. c. 



A nut remains a year in the ground before it germinates, 

 and a tree is twenty to thirty years old before it bears fruit. 



