GENERAL ACCOUNT HEDLEY. 



Fig. 1. Method of collecting sap diopping from wounded spathes (toddy) 

 into suspended coconut-shell flasks. 



Gilbert Islands, take hard old coconut kernel, grate fine, dry 

 in the sun and pound to the consistency of oatmeal : upon this 

 pour boiling syrup of molasses. Water sweetened with molasses 

 is an ordinary drink, and as an alternative to coconut milk a 

 thrifty householder pointed out that the supply of beverage for his 

 family from one tree yielding toddy, equalled that from ten trees 

 yielding nuts. The Ellice Islanders, who were also unacquainted 

 with kava or' betelnut, never fermented or distilled their toddy 

 into an intoxicant like the Gilbert Islanders, among whom free 



