The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-02-21
Tiic COcOaIpsut Tree.

T'iic C0cOanut Tree,
This tree is found all over the tropical parts
Of the world, especially in the vicinity OF the
sea, growing in reach of salt water, and estab-
li>hing itself upon reefs and sand banks, as soon
as they emerge from the ocean. Its great i'm.
portancc to man has caused it to be cultivated
wherever the climate is favorable to its growth
The whole brazilian coast, from the river San
Francisco to the bar Of Mamanguape, dis
tance of $50 miles, is. with few breaks, thus
occupied; and it is estimated that in the year
1913 no fewer than ten millions of trees were
growing on the southwest coast of Ceylon.
The cocoanut palm rises like slender COL
unln, to from 60 to 80 feet in height. In hot
countries the uses to which the c"coannt trees
are applied, are innumerable. The roots are
chewed in place Of the arecanut; cutters, drains
and the posts of huts are formed from the trunk,
and the Young buds are delicate vegetable;
shade is furnished by the leaves. when growing,
and after separation from the tree, their large
size and hard texture render them invaluable
as thatch for cottages; they are, moreover,
manufactured into baskets, buckets, lanterns,
articles of hcad.drcss, and even books, upon
which writing is traced with an iron stylus;
their ashes yield potash in abundance; their
midri form oars; and brushes are made by
bruisng the ends of the leaves, with a portion
of the mijr adhcring.
From the Juice of the stem kind OF palm
wine, and subsequently an ardent spirit is pre-
pared: the f;,rnaceouS matter contained in the
stem is good substitute for sage, and a coarse,
dark coIored sugar, called ':jagshcry," is ob-
tained by in~pissating the sap. This lagghery,
mxcd with lime, forms a powerful cement,
which re<isl> moisture, endures great solar
heat and will take fine polish The ripe
fruit is a Wholesome food, and the milk it con-
tains u grateful cooling beverage. Indeed
these, together, constitute the principal susie
nance Of the poorer Indians in many countries.
The fbrous bark is used to polish furniture,
as brushes, aud to form valuable elastic cord
age, called ''cuir.'' The fbrous matter Of the
hlsI is employed to stuff mattresses, and
Manufacture Of it into cordagc, mats. Sacking,
&c, has atc V been introduced in Great Brit
ain. The shell is manufactured into drinking
vessels and vessels of measure, and the ahu.
men, or white solid matter contained within the
shell, yields by pressure OF decoction an excel
lent oil, which is employed not only for burn
inT but in the manufacture of torches and in the
composition of pharmaceutical prcpaations.-
Mixed with dammcr (the resin of Morea r0Jus.
ta) it forms substance used in India for COW
erng the seams of ships and boats.
The phIanlhropiSt will be pleased to learn
that whether the existence of cocoanut groves
has led to taste for agriculture or Il taste for
agriculture has led to the formation Of cocoa.
nut groves, certain it is, rs proved by long ex.
pcrenre among races Just emerging from utter
barIarisin, that this tree is the banner of hope
to It's po>>rssur MIR. Eagle says that whcncv.
cr assisting to form remote settlements (at
which he has spent years of his lile) several
hundreds of cOr"anuls, for planting, have al
ways formed part otthc first ship loads of seeds;
and aSsurcdlv, il the natives preserve the groves
that nc has left them, they will have made the
first step out of the darkness Of baIbarism.
When once this boundary is passed, progress
becomes smooth and easy, although it may not
be rapid. \ fixed residence becomes recessa
ry, to protect the ncwl ly acquired property, and
the plantation now becomes extended 10 other
plants and edible fruits and roots that may be
found in the woods or procured from their
nriuhburs.
Hail. then, to the cocoannt tree, with its tra
thcr Of leaves and delicious truit-the COM
memcemcnt of ayrirulture-the larbinger Of
civilization-may it be propagatcd from shore
to shore, wherever it will grow, until barbar-
ism shall be unknown, except us history; the
errors of Paganisrn giving way to the truths
Of the Christian religion, its blessings shall he
didsc'l to the iurlhcrmosl parts of the earth.
Cucoanuts are imported as dunnage, and
therefore are free Of freight.
Curious CALCULATIoNs.-A writer in the
Boston Journal makes the following curious
caIcuatiuus:
The enormous sum of S2Ol 100000 in gold
has been received at the Mint in Philadelphia
from California, from the first discovery of the
precious metal, to December |. 1858.
Now in order to give some idea TO the gen
cral reader of the immense amount OF $20l,-
600 600 | will merely state that allowing each
silver dollar to weigh one ounce woirdupois,
sixteen to the pound the weight would be l2,-
$50 900 lbs, or G,375 tons, allowing 1000 lbs.
to the ton. To carry this weight, it would re-
quire 6,375 wagons, containing ton each, or
So, 900. Now, suppose each vehicle, drawn
by one horse, To occupy Il space of - feet,
they would extend in Il continuous line Il lrac-
tinn short of 80 miles
I'm order To count such Il vast sum OF money
rs this, very few persons have any idea "i me
time il would require, without making caIcula-
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