58 



JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). 



[Vol. XIX. 



the branches of the palmer or coco tree, and covered with 

 the leaves of the same tree." 



In view of the export trade in coconuts which the Portu- 

 guese discovered immediately on their arrival, in^iew also of 

 the abundance of coconuts gathered no doubt from gardens 

 in the Kotte and adjacent districts along the Kelani-ganga, 

 nay probably from the neighbourhood of Colombo itself — 

 while we know that the coast from Kalutara to Galle and on 

 to Dondra Head was covered with the palm 400 years ago, as 

 it is to-day — it is most astonishing that there is little or no 

 mention of the coconut by the otherwise full and careful 

 Portuguese writer Ribeiro, whose manuscript was presented 

 to the King of Portugal in 1685. The areca (betel-nut) and 

 talipot palms are freely mentioned ; but the coconut scarcely 

 at all. This would seem to show that the Portuguese never had 

 much export trade in coconut produce ;* that they esteemed 

 it as of less importance than cinnamon bark, and the arecanut 

 —both, of course, much more valuable at the time, in pro- 

 portion to bulk, a matter for consideration in days when the 

 biggest of their ships (small brigs and barques) would be 

 deemed unequal even to a coasting trade in the present day. 

 In the account of the arrival of the Dutch Admiral J. van 

 Spilbergen off the south-east coast of Ceylon in 1602 it is 

 mentioned that as they approached a bay they "found a great 

 grove of coquos trees ;" f and the French traveller Pyrard 

 (1601-1605) gives a very full description of the coconut palm 

 and its different products,^ while he also reports having seen 

 as many as 100 ships loaded with coconuts at the Maldives 



* On the other hand, Barros, describing Ceylon (III., II., i.), says : — 

 " It has great palm groves, which is the best inheritance of those parts ; 

 because, besides the fruit thereof being the common food, these palm 

 trees are profitable for divers uses ; of which food, called coco, there is 

 here great loading for many parts." In III., III., vii., describing the 

 Maldives, he treats at length of the coco and its uses. See also Linschoten, 

 chap. 56 (partly taken from G . da Orta). — D. W. F. [Doubtless the ship- 

 ments were for Indian and other Asiatic ports and not for Europe.] 



t Query, Arugam Bay, see "Ceylon Literary Register," vol. VI., p. 316. 

 " Ceylon Literary Register," vol. V., 1890-1891, p. 300. 



