CACAO PALAVEK 13 



tree ought to thrive out here. The climate of the Gold 

 Coast is so congenial to cocoa that the trees grow, 

 as you will presently see, like weeds. In other 

 countries the cocoa tree has gained the reputation of 

 being one of the most exacting of tropical crops, 

 demanding much time and skilled attention. Local 

 conditions and the happy-go-lucky methods of cultiva- 

 tion under which the Gold Coast has become the 

 biggest cocoa producing country of the world, are 

 challenging some of the theories hitherto put forward 

 by experts, and generally accepted as the first principles 

 of successful cocoa growing. For instance. . . . 



Quick ! Get inside. We fight against the furies 

 of a terrific gale. . . . All manner of things are 

 flying about everywhere around us. . . . Deck- 

 chairs are being hurled overboard. . . . Awnings 

 are thundering, doors are banging, there is a crash 

 of breaking glass. It is only a stone's throw from 

 where we have been sitting on deck to the haven of 

 the lounge, but by the time we get under cover we 

 are on the verge of exhaustion. 



"Shut that door!" is the greeting shouted at us 

 before we are through it. To a chorus of " Wasn't it 

 glorious to feel the wind !" . . . "The rain will soon be 

 here, coming down in bucketfuls." . . . "Cool night 

 after this be able to sleep for a change " . . . we join 

 fellow-passengers and stewards in the frantic rush to 

 close windows, portholes, and skylights, and in lending 

 a hand at holding things down until all communication 

 with the outer air has been shut off, so as to prevent 

 any more books, papers, bottles, and glasses joining 

 in the fray. 



We are experiencing a very good sample of the 

 tornadoes which are a featuie of West Coast weather. 



