Chap. II. 
A VALUABLE PALM. 
39 
discover during our rambles. The first thing we did 
on these occasions was to ascend the nearest hill and 
take a survey of the windings of the river, with the 
number of rapids, in order that we might form some idea 
of the progress our boat would make during our absence. 
If the rapids were numerous we knew that she would 
progress slowly, and that we might wander to a con- 
siderable distance with perfect safety ; if, on the other 
hand, the river seemed smooth, and its bed comparatively 
level, we were obliged to keep within a short distance of 
the banks. 
Amongst the trees the most common were the Dry- 
andra cordata of Thunberg, the tung-eu of the Chinese, 
which is valuable on account of the quantity of oil found 
in its seeds, and the tallow-tree, which furnishes both 
tallow and oil. A palm-tree, and the only species of the 
genus indigenous to, or cultivated in, the northern or 
central provinces of the empire, was seen on the hill-side 
here in a high state of perfection. It seems a species of 
Gkamcerops. It is particularly valuable to the northern 
Chinese, who use its large, brown, hairlike bracts for many 
purposes. Ropes and cables for their junks are made 
out of this substance, and seem to last, even under water, 
for a very long time. It is probably better and stronger 
for those purposes than the fibre of the cocoa-nut, which 
it resembles to a certain extent. Bed -bottoms are 
wrought out of this, and are largely used in the country 
by all classes of the natives. Agricultural labourers and i 
coolies are fond of wearing hats and cloaks made out of 
the same substance, which in wet weather keeps out a ' 
great deal of rain ; and there are many other purposes to 
