384 Coco-nuts The Consols of the East 



and so apt to catch the sparks. The ability 

 to have these comparatively extensive side 

 roofs constructed from attap is, in many 

 localities, an important consideration from a 

 money point of view, as in some out of the way 

 regions the cost of galvanized iron is very high, 

 almost prohibitive in fact. 



As for boards and scantling, there are few 

 places indeed nowadays in the East where it 

 is not possible to obtain them cheaply on the 

 spot, even of native make. Lime for mortar, 

 from coral and shells washed up, is almost 

 everywhere to be had for low figures, or may 

 be made from Nature's supplies spread broad- 

 cast in or over the soil in all the regions where 

 it is profitable to plant coco-nuts. 



The copra so treated has on completion of 

 the drying process a fine and even whitish 

 appearance, not yellow or smoke-affected ; and 

 the oil, on expression, has a sweet, pleasant 

 odour, not rancid and pungent like the trade- 

 copra of the South Seas or that from 

 Zanzibar, Madagascar, Commoroja, &c. 



It is obvious that in breaking the nuts care 

 should be taken to obtain mostly large, and 

 not small, pieces, which take more time and 

 cost more money to handle. This is gained 

 by strict supervision of the native workmen, 

 who should only use sharp, clean tools. More 

 injury than is generally credited is caused by 

 discoloration through the use of iron rods with 

 flattened ends rammed into the ground, or of 



