212 
COCOA-NUT TREE. 
their feet, and then tie both together by a rope 
passing 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 prevent them from having to renew 
their toil. By means of the adjoining branches, 
and some ropes fastened at different places for the 
purpose, they contrive to pass from one tree to an- 
other. I have seen them in this manner collect 
the toddy from a whole grove of cocoa trees with- 
out once descending ; and their feats of agility on 
these occasions equalled any thing I have seen the 
most dexterous of our sailors perform among the 
rigging of a ship, and was scarcely outdone by the 
monkeys, the native inhabitants of these groves.” 
The different parts of the cocoa tree are applied 
to various purposes. The light porous substance 
which grows amongst the branches is manufactured 
into a kind of coarse cloth, which serves to wrap 
up goods and to make rice-bags. The outer rind 
of the nut is made into ropes of different de- 
scriptions, and into cables and cordage for their 
vessels : in short, wherever tow or hemp is used, 
this rind may be employed to advantage, and it 
has one quality which is even superior, it does not 
rot so soon. The branches, cut down, are formed 
into posts and rafters for the huts of the natives, 
while the leaves are employed to cover the roofs 
and repel the rain: these last are likewise made into 
