THE GOMUTI. 351 



moreover, informs us that the Cabo-Negro (Black Head) 

 resembles the Cocoa-nut tree in the figure of its leaves 

 and trunk ; but the former are of a dead dark green, in 

 comparison with the Cocoa-nut leaves. Like all other 

 Palms it shoots out its leaves at the top only, and as the 

 tree grows up, sheds the lowest. From the lower part, 

 or stalks, of these leaves (which, he observes, form the 

 bark of all Palms) "the gumatty shoots out on both 

 sides like black hair, being, in fact, nothing more than 

 the extension of the finest fibres, whereof the stalks and 

 ribs of the leaves are composed : these fibres bind the 

 dead leaves around the tree, so that the trunk has a very 

 odd appearance, being confined in a rough black coat." 

 These leaves being taken off the tree, are stripped of the 

 hair, and it is said the Gumatty must be beaten to free it 

 from dirt, and then spread in the sun ; two or three days 

 after which, the larger threads, being unfit for cordage, 

 are picked out. The Gumatty is black as jet; the hairs 

 extremely strong, and resemble the Coir, except that 

 they are longer and finer. The finest hairs make the best 

 cordage, which ought not to be too hard laid ; the small 

 hard twigs found mixed up with this material are em- 

 ployed as pens, and form the shafts of the sumpits, or 

 little poisoned arrows ; and underneath the reticulum is a 

 soft, silky material, used as tinder by the Chinese, and 

 applied as oakum in caulking the seams of ships ; while 

 from the interior of the trunk a kind of Sago is prepared. 

 St. Pierre observes, in speaking with admiration of the 

 Cocoa-nut tree, " Tout le monde sait qu' on y batit un 

 vaisseau de son bois, qu'on en fait les voiles avec les 

 feuilles, le mat avec son tronc, les cordages avec 1'etoupe, 



