THE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 321 
also in the construction of canoes ; and with it the Mosula 
boats of Madrass are built. In some parts of India this 
wood is applied to the construction of larger vessels. I 
have been assured that the king of the Maidive islands 
sent his ambassadors to the Dutch Governor at Columbo, 
in a small ship which was entirely built and rigged from 
the cocoa-tree, while those employed in fitting it out were 
fed upon the nuts. 
It is surprising to see with what dexterity the natives 
climb those high, straight, and slender trees. They have 
many ways of facilitating their ascent. Sometimes they tie 
pieces of the long leaf, twisted together like ropes of hay, 
around the body of the tree, leaving the distance of about 
two feet between each piece, and thus forming for them- 
selves a sort of ladder. Frequently they embrace the tree 
with their feet and then tie both together by a rope pas- 
sed round the ancles : at the same time they clasp the tree 
with their hands, and thus ascend, resting alternately on 
their ancles and their arms. Having gained the top 
of one tree, their agility and dexterity prevents them 
from having to renew their toil. By means of the adjoin- 
ing branches, and some ropes fastened at different places 
for the purpose, they contrive to pass from one tree to 
another. I have seen them in this manner collect the toddy 
from a whole grove of cocoa-trees without once descending; 
and their feats of agility on these occasions equalled any 
thing I have seen the most dexterous of our sailors per- 
T T 
