OF FOREST-TREES. 367 



belongs to the rigging of ships ; in short, this single tree furnishing BOOK IV 

 a great part of the world with all that even a voluptuous man can need, 



Sand. He was at leisure, and of no small curiosity, who counted them. But not to inquire 

 too strictly and minutely into their number, the ocean about these islands most abounds 

 with these nuts, which are rare ; the sea casts them upon the shore, or they float upon the 

 water, yet I have seen them from the coast of Melinde to the Cape of Guardafuy, for 

 above two hundred leagues : they are little less than a man's head, grow two together, 

 joined one to the other, not all along, but near two-thirds, the colour of the rind (which 

 is hard, though thin) black. The Europeans make of it bodies of birds, e. g. of a peacock, 

 adding to it feet, neck, head, and wings, and that perfection of parts the bird designed 

 requires. The pulp or kernel of this fruit is very firm, as in those that grow at land ; of 

 very great esteem with the natives. I have seen it sold for its weight in silver, being 

 esteemed a singular remedy against all diseases, particularly against poison, pounded in 

 a mortar (made for that purpose) with a little water, till it grows white, and so drank. — 

 In India they make frequent use of this remedy, having it in abundance. So much of the 

 Palm-tree and the nut Maldiva *. I am now to discourse of the inestimable profit of the 

 other sorts. / 



" Palm-trees, of what species soever, have neither a tliick trunk, nor boughs like other 

 trees. As they grow in height, their boughs come out at the top, and open to make room 

 for others ; as the old ones fall, they leave an impression in the tree where they were. 

 If any have two trunks, the thing is very peculiar, and shewn as notorious : I have only 

 seen one or two such, in all the time and places I was in India : one of them near the 

 coast of Melinde, whence I embarked for the island Pate, to see a thing so remarkable. 

 The tree called Macomeira (from the fruit named macoma) is the only one, that grown 

 to the height of a man, divides herself into two trunks, each of which, at the same distance, 

 is divided into other two, so grows on, each trunk producing two, till she arrives to that 

 height, the natives allow proportionable to the species. The tree called Trefulim, grows 

 the tallest, and for height, were the thickness proportionable, (loftiness is more considerable 

 in this, than any other of the sorts,) and the nature of the wood solid and strong, might 

 make a mast for a great vessel, but it wants sufficient substance, neither are those trees 

 •which yield Cocoas, proper for that use ; in little vessels they serve, as will be immediately 

 related. That the most favourable situation for the growth and fertility of these trees, is 

 the ground nearest the sea, has been said before : and if the roots reach the mud of salt- 

 water, they thrive best with that watering. Experience hath found, that those Palm-trees 

 which grow nearest houses inhabited, are the most fruitful ; therefore, the natives, if 

 possible, contrive to dwell in the Palm -orchards, having there their goods and estates, (as 

 will presently be said,) their pleasure and recreation : these are the real estates in India, 

 as vineyards and oliveyards in Europe : amongst these is arable land, which they sow, and 



• The Sea Coco-nut which has long been considered as a marine production, and been so extremely scarce 

 and valuable, is now discovered to be the fruit of a Palm with flabelliform leaves, which grows abundantly on 

 the small islands to the eastward of Madagascar, called in our charts Mahi, &c. and by the French, Les Isles de 

 iSechelles.—A. H. 



3 A 2 



