Copra and its Preparation 375 



steamer communication should spell increased 

 prosperity and much more demand for coco- 

 nuts in the immediate future. For the Cocos 

 nucifera is one of the main food staples of 

 the East, and of the possibilities of its con- 

 sumption there is no ending". 



A good many of the proud sailing ships 

 of a couple of decades ago now only fulfil the 

 prosaic mission of an inter-port trade from the 

 coco-nut growing lands and isles in the "belt" 

 to the adjacent regions beyond. One comes 

 across these proud ones of a bygone day in 

 every creek and corner of those latitudes, often 

 captained and manned by natives. The hand- 

 ling of the nuts is very cheap, and so indeed 

 is the whole traffic ; it is, therefore, a useful 

 agent and medium even for the European 

 planter who happens to be so fortunately placed 

 as to be able to avail himself of it to advan- 

 tage. The safety or otherwise to the rest 

 of the shipping is quite another matter, and 

 collisions and wrecks galore are the rule and 

 not the exception. It is always wise to give 

 such " country-wallahs," as they are called, as 

 wide a berth as possible, or they are apt to 

 make rather free with one's hamper. It is 

 quite a common sight to see them try to lay 

 alongside and board each other in the open 

 sea, just because Moussa, Ibrahim, or Wan 

 Feng happens to have a brother or something 

 on the other craft with whom he wants to 

 swop lies or exchange and " makan-sirih " (eat 



