1891.] D. Prain — The Vegetation of the Coco Group. 3f5 



Fort Blair; it remains nevertheless difficult to understand why not' a 

 single Coco-nut should have escaped the notice of the Andamanese — 

 who after all are not a numerous race — while, as it happens, we have 

 Mr. Kurz's positive statement that in certain parts of North Andaman 

 the species does occur. 



It seems to the writer that for this particular group of islands, 

 although the spread of the Coco-nuts within the group is undoubtedly 

 due to the agency of the sea, the ocean-current theory does not explain 

 the presence of the species, and that the original introduction has more 

 probably been due to human interference. The question remains whether 

 this was voluntary or involuntary. It miy have been the result of an 

 attempt at settlement in the island. The most recent attempt, which 

 dates from 1878, is not the only one on record. An earlier attempt, as 

 unsuccessful as the last, was made in 1849. But it does not follow 

 though these are the only attempts known, that they are the only ones 

 which have been made. Both were made entirely on account of the 

 Coco-nut being present in the islands, as perhaps other attempts before 

 them may have been, for it appears that the name Coco Islands, implying 

 the establishment there of Goco nucifera and the knowledge of that 

 fact by navigators, dates from some of the very earliest European visits 

 to Eastern seas. But it is not impossible that a yet earlier attempt to 

 settle here may have been made and that the introduction of the Coco- 

 nut may have been one of its results. It is easy to understand that 

 these islands should have been chosen in preference to the more inviting- 

 looking Andaman group owing to the character for ferocity which for 

 some curious reason, was attributed to the inhabitants of the Andamans 

 by early navigators, and it is as easy to understand that the adverse 

 natural conditions which prevail, and which have caused the failure of 

 all recent attempts at settlement, must soon have led to the abandonment 

 of the earliest attempt. The writer feels inclined to think that this may 

 be the true explanation of the presence of Goco nucifera in the Cocos 

 Islands. But it may quite as readily have been due to involuntary in- 

 troduction by ship- wreck ; for while disinclined to accept the suggestion 

 that there are no Coco-nut trees in tlie Andamans because the Anda- 

 manese have eaten all the stranded Coco-nuts, when it is applied to nuts 

 thrown up by ocean-currents, the writer thinks this explanation may well 

 enough account for the presence of Coco-nut ti'ees in the Cocos while 

 they are absent from the main islands, if introduction by reason of ship- 

 wreck is postulated. In the Cocos there are no inhabitants, while in the 

 main islands there are ; and though it is scarcely reasonable to suppose 

 that the Andamanese would detect every nut that is cast up on the 

 beach, there is little doubt that they would soon become aware of the 



