178  Mr.  miller’s  Account  of 
home,  was  loft,  and  every  foul  on  board  perifhed.  This 
has,  however,  been  a fevere  ftroke  upon  me;  for  as  I 
was  obliged  to  leave  all  my  baggage  on  board,  it  being 
impracticable  to  carry  it  over  land,  I loft  all  my  cloaths, 
books,  fpecimens,  manufcripts,  notes,  arms,  &c.  from 
Enganho ; in  fhort,  almoft  every  thing  which  I had  either 
brought  with  me,  or  collected  during  my  refidence  in 
this  ifland. 
I forgot  to  mention,  that  when  I was  at  Tappanooly  I 
faw  what  I find  in  purchas’s  Pilgrim  called  the  wonder- 
ful plant  of  Sombrero:  his  account,  however,  is  fomewhat 
exaggerated,  when  he  fays  it  bears  leaves  and  grows  to 
be  a great  tree.  The  name  by  which  it  is  known  to  the 
Malays  is  ~Lalan-lout , that  is,  fea-grafs.  It  is  found 
Tandy  bays,  in  fhallow  water,  where  it  appears  lik 
flender  ftrait  ftick,  but,  when  you  attempt  to  touch 
immediately  withdraws  itfelf  into  the  fand.  I coulu 
never  obferve  any  tentacula:  a broken  piece,  near  a foot 
long,  which,  after  many  unfuccefsful  attempts,  I drew 
out,  was  perfectly  ftrait  and  uniform,  and  refembled  a 
worm  drawn  over  a knitting-needle;  when  dry  it  is  a 
coral. 
The  fea  cocoa-nut,  which  has  long  been  erroneoufly 
confidered  as  a marine  production,  and  been  fo  extremely 
ficarce  and  valuable,  is  now  difcovered  to  be  the  fruit  of 
a palm 
