CH. xm USEFUL PLANTS IN MINAHASSA 331 



The coco-nut palms are very extensively grown in 

 Minahassa, as in other islands of the tropics, and in many 

 places form the most valuable possessions of the native 

 families. The white fleshy part of the nut is largely used 

 in the preparation of curries for the table and for other 

 flavouring purposes, but the amount thus used is but a 

 small proportion of the copra annually produced. The 

 young leaves of the coco-nut palm are employed for 

 purposes of decoration in times of festivity. To give the 

 leaves a more bushy appearance the pinnules are some- 

 times cut half-way through at their bases and then 

 partially split, as seen in figs. 19 and 20. 



It is commonly reported that small pearls or stones of 

 carbonate of hme are occasionally found in the fleshy 

 substance of the coco-nut. "When found they are highly 

 valued by the natives as a charm against disease and evil 

 spirits. The common Malay name for them is Mnstica 

 calappa. In the southern parts of Celebes several different 

 kinds of charm-stones are kept by the natives. The 

 Buginese word for them is ulawu (45). Thus there is 

 the ulawu of the bambo, probably tabasheer, the ulawu of 

 the belawa-wood {Gluta benghas), of the tamarind tree, the 

 ulawu of the snake, the ulawu of the centipede, and many 

 others. AU of these are stones occasionally found in the 

 trees or animals from which they derive their name, and are 

 treasured by the natives as giving them the power to hold 

 a speU over another person, to gain riches for themselves 

 and for other purposes (91). 



I have to thank the Resident of Manado for two excellent 

 specimens of coco-nut pearls ; one is pear-shaped, and may 

 now be seen in the museum at Kew Gardens, and the 

 other is spherical. Half of this one was submitted to 

 chemical analysis and the other half remains in my posses- 

 sion. They are of a uniform milky- white colour, hard, and 



