THE COCO-TREE. 



183 



the tree requires before it bears fruit, cannot 

 tail to be considered as a drawback upon the 

 profits which it ultimately affords, and upon the 

 great age to which it arrives. However perhaps 

 there are few trees of equal size that yield fruit 

 in so short a period. It is a most valuable pro- 

 duction, of which every part is appropriated to 

 some useful purpose. The Brazilians say, that 

 it affords to them both food and shelter j of the 

 trunk and of the leaves their huts are built ; of 

 its fibrous roots baskets are made, and cordage 

 of the outward husk. Its fruit renders to them 

 meat and drink, and an excellent oil is likewise 

 to be obtained by skimming the juice which may 

 be pressed from the pulp. The coco is in ge- 

 neral use in cookery among all ranks of people, 

 and it forms one of the chief articles of internal 

 trade. * When a plantation of this tree is about 

 to be established, the ripe cocos from which the 

 plants are to be reared are placed in the ground, 

 about twelve inches below the surface, in long 

 and almost united rows, for the convenience of 

 being watered. They are frequently placed in 

 this manner, under the eaves of houses, which 

 saves much trouble, for by the accumulation 



* " Les Espanhols en font des tasses pour prendre le cho- 

 colat. J'en ai vii de tres belles bien travafflees, cizelees, en- 

 richies d 'argent sur un pied d' argent, et d' autres sur un pied 

 fait dun autre morceau de cocos bien cizele." — Nouveau 

 Voyage, &c. torn. iii. p. 273. 



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