44 
MACASSAR — COCOA- NUTS, 
aspect. Here for the first time we had the com- 
fort of being moored to the shore ; by simply 
crossing the gangway we were on terra Jtrma , 
Passing from the wharf, one enters a long street 
where European, Chinese, and Arab warehouses 
and shops are closely wedged; it opens into a 
broad avenue of stately trees which skirt a green 
sward. The grounds of the Government man- 
sions open from the avenue, and here also are 
the best European houses, with a good club- 
house or reading-room, where the ‘ Graphic 5 and 
many good papers may be seen. An imposing 
fort, very white against the grass, fills one end 
of the green. I like walking when possible, one 
gets so cramped on board ship, so each morning 
we made our way to the outskirts, passing fre- 
quently through some native village. In one of 
these I first tasted the milk of the cocoa-nut, 
and saw the expert way of obtaining the nuts 
from the tall trees. Slight notches are cut all 
up the stem at the distance of a stride, by which 
with unfaltering steps the gatherer mounts, plac- 
ing the great toe in the notches. A cocoa-nut 
tree is exceedingly beautiful ; the long, smooth, 
upright grey stem is just fit to be crowned with 
the feathery plumes that bend so gracefully over 
it. The nut gathered fresh is very different from 
