840 
SOUTH SEA 
The “ toddy-cutter journeys to the cocoa-nut grove 
in the shade of the evening, and after having ascended 
to the top of one of the trees, by notches which are cut 
in its bark, forming steps, with a sharp knife he cuts off 
the end of the fructifying bud that projects from the 
head of the tree, and which, if left uninjured, produces 
the flower and the fruit of the cocoa-nut. He then 
places under the wounded part a long empty bamboo, 
which being left until the dawn of the morning, the 
toddy -cutter again pays his visit and carries off his bam- 
boo, well filled with the delicious juice which exudes 
from the wounded bud. It is then sold to any one who 
chooses to purchase ; and it is much used by the in- 
habitants themselves, who obtain from it the ardent 
spirit, called by them aquadente, which they procure by 
distillation, after the juice has been fermented. 
The toddy-cutter is much sought after by the English 
sailor, who watches his whereabout with unceasing care, 
while the toddy-man, after having freed his juice from 
the musquitos, which, having sipped the intoxicating 
liquor from the bamboo during the night, falling into 
it in considerable numbers, find a premature and in- 
temperate death, offers his cocoa-nut shell well filled to 
Jack, who, like the intemperate musquito, quaffs draught 
after draught, until he finds his understanding giving 
way, and if it were possible would fall into the same 
snare. 
The inhabitants of this island, as with all others who 
are brutal, ungenerous, and cowardly, delight in the 
cruel exhibition of cock-fighting, and to which they are 
