( III ) 
probably, from the ufe that is made of the 
kernel-like fubftance, which - is found towards 
the top, and which is a mo ft grateful and 
falutary food to failors, who have been long 
confined to fait diet ; on which account, this 
fubftance has been celebrated by all navigators, 
and from them has obtained the name of cab- 
bage, from it's refemblance in tafte to that 
vegetable. Some writers have mentioned it as 
being commonly made ufe of for food by the 
inhabitants of the countries where this palm- 
tree is found : but this muft probably be an 
errour, as, from the beft authorities, it appears 
that the kernel-like fubftance, or cabbage, is 
efteemed a rarity even in the Weft Indies^ 
and frequently pickled and fent to England 
as a peculiar nicety, although the tree is a 
native of the foil. Nor is it difficult to ac- 
count for this fcarcity when we attend to the 
fact, that the part called cabbage cannot be 
obtained but by the deftruclion of the whole 
tree; nor will this appear extraordinary if we 
confider the mode of it's ftrufture : the whole 
tribe of Palms bear their leaves on the upper 
part of their ftems only, fome of which rife 
to the height of 2,00 feet • the part eaten as 
cabbage feems to be the yearly ftioot, by 
t cutting 
