CLIMBING FOR COCONUTS 221 



The ground is covered with a thick growth^of 

 green grass, studded with hibiscus and other 

 flowering plants, while orange trees grow in great 

 profusion. 



In Tahiti, as well as in most of the South Sea 

 Islands, great numbers of coconuts are grown, 

 and after being dried for copra are shipped in large 

 quantities to Europe. We were much interested 

 in the different methods of gathering the nuts in 

 various islands. In Tahiti the natives climb the 

 trees with the help of a strip of green fibrous bark 

 torn off the stem of a hibiscus tree. After knotting 

 the two ends together, the climber slips his feet 

 half through the circle, and, standing with his legs 

 apart, so as to stretch the thong tight, ascends the 

 tree in a series of leaps, with a foot on each side of 

 the trunk. A practised climber will thus mount 

 trees of a very considerable height with a celerity 

 and ease which do not suggest the long practice 

 actually required. On making a trial myself, 

 I found it difficult to climb even so much as a foot 

 from the ground. 



In its fresh green state the coconut provides 

 a most refreshing drink, but as it grows older the 

 " milk " hardens and forms the white kernel with 

 which we are all familiar. This kernel is the 

 celebrated copra, and is commercially put to 

 many different uses. In Tahiti it is used for sauces 

 and for coconut oil. One sauce, which was served 

 with fish at the above-mentioned picnic, although 



