COCOA-NUT. 103 



the fibrous covering of the cocoa-nut is converted into 

 good ropes, which are useful in navigation and for various 

 purposes on shore. Cables for anchors made of this sub- 

 stance are much better than those made of hemp. They 

 I are exceedingly elastic, stretch without straining the vessel, 

 and scarcely ever break advantages which are not pos- 

 sessed by those of hemp. They are also lighter, and never 

 rot in consequence of their being soaked with sea-water ; 

 nor do they exhale damp or miasmata, which are exceed- 

 ingly hurtful to the crews of ships who sleep on the same 

 deck where ropes are kept when ships are under sail. 

 These ropes are also more easily managed, and run better 

 in the pulleys during nautical manoeuvres. 



Some time since a cocoa-tree was cut down on Mr. 



| Hanson's land, in Jamaica, which had been planted about 



| a century, when, in grubbing up the root, the shell from 



I which the tree had been raised was found quite sound and 



perfect. 



The Chili cocoa produces a fruit not larger than a 

 ; walnut, but this is more esteemed than the large kind 

 which is brought to England. 



The cocoa-nut-tree was cultivated in Chelsea garden as 

 long back as the year 1 739. 



