40 
SURVIVAL OH LAND AND SEA 
crack the shell and the top of the nut can be picked off without 
spilling the liquid. If the nut is mature, poke out the eyes and 
drink the water. To break it open place it on its side on the palm 
of your hand. In your other hand grasp a stone and strike the 
middle of the nut with it. Revolve the nut a quarter turn and 
strike it again. Continue to turn the nut, striking it each time, 
until the nut cracks in half. 
Coconut oil is a good preventive for sunburn, as well as an 
aid to keeping off small mites, sometimes called chiggers, and 
other insects. You can get coconut oil quite easily by exposing 
the meat of the coconut to the sun. The oil will run more 
quickly if you grate or pound it before placing it in the sun. 
You can also get coconut oil by heating coconut meat over a 
slow fire. If you have any kind of cooking pot or a section cut 
from a bamboo tree (see p. 41, under Sea Food) you can boil 
coconut meat in water ; when the mixture cools the oil will rise 
to the top. If you apply even a thin coating of coconut oil to 
your skin you need have little fear of sunburn. 
The natives of Oceania have discovered that coconut oil is a 
good preventive against salt water sores and bloating. Before 
going fishing on the reef they are careful to smear their legs and 
feet with this oil. By this means, they are able to keep their 
skin in good condition, despite the fact that they have to stand 
in salt water many hours at a time. 
ISLAND SEA FOOD 
Anyone stranded on a beach or shore should have little diffi- 
culty in maintaining himself for an indefinite period on shellfish 
or mollusks. These are an abundant source of food much appre- 
