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COCOA-NUT TREE. 
sixty feet, is crowned with a bunch of ten or 
twelve leaves, each leaf being from ten to fifteen 
feet long, and composed of a double range of flag- 
shaped leaflets. From the centre of these leaves 
rises a straight, pointed, tender bud, which the na- 
tives call chou , and which is reckoned a delicacy. 
At the lower part of the bunch of leaves, and close 
to the stem, may be seen a great, oval, and pointed 
sheath, from whence issues a panicle charged with 
yellow flowers, which in due time produces the well- 
known fruit. It is hardly necessary to say that this, 
in its husk, is about the size of a man’s head, and 
that it contains a clear, white, and firm nut, which 
is very indigestible, and has but little taste : it con- 
tains a useful oil, however, which the natives extract 
and apply to several purposes. When the nut is 
half ripe it contains a considerable quantity of clear 
water, which is better known by the name of 
milk. This has a very pleasant smell, and a most 
agreeable taste. In a country where the heat of 
the sun is intense, and the ground frequently 
parched for want of moisture, the milk of this nut 
proves, from its coolness, a delightful and refresh- 
ing beverage. 
The cocoa-nut tree is of slow growth ; but to 
compensate for this it lives long, and regularly pro- 
duces fruit three or four times a year. When the 
extremity of the young and tender sheath is cut off, 
there distills from the wound a sweet white liquor, 
of a very pleasant flavour, which the natives call 
