The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-03-16
The COcOanut Palm.

Among the legion of generous gifts be-
slowed by kind nature upon man there
is none, perhaps, that can compare fav
orably with the cocoanut palm in use
fulness. Not only are the products OF
this tree capable of being utilized in an
endless number of ways, but the tree it.
self may be viewed as a pioneer amongs,
vegetable productions, by whose aid the
first links of the great chain of plant
life amongst the newly formed islands
of the southern and eastern seas are es.
tablished.
The nut is by no means the only pro-
duct of the cocoa palm, the juice, or sap,
being of considerable Importance to the
cocoa grower; but to obtain this, the nut
crop of particular trees must be sacrificed
as the qualification of the flower spathe
is prevented by the operations of the sap
collector, or ''toddy drawer" as he is
called. This sap procured is the palm
wine of poets and ancient writers. I'm
mediately after collection, and before ex-
posture to heat and contact with foreign
substances,it possesses an agreeably sweet
taste, extremely cool and refreshing. In
the course of few hours change takes
place, and sharp, acid, and not diSa-
greeable flavor is establishes; this acid
condition rapidly progresses, and in
twenty-four hours the sap is perfectly
sour.
"Rack punch" is the name of drink
held in high esteem 10y the past genera
ton, and owes both name and peculiar
flavor to arrach, spirit distilled from the
| oH< <ho w.
Vinegar of excellent quality is made
from the sour sap.
"Jaggery," or palm sugar-largely ex-
ported, and extensively used for home
consumption--is made from the sap, be-
fore the acid change takes place. The
fruit, or cocoanuts, are, according to their
state of development, consumed in an
endless number of ways; the unripe nut
not only contains most delicious store
of cool drink, but good supply of veg
etable blanc mango, which can be scooped
out with a sea-shell, aud eaten in the
grove. AS the nut progresses toward
maturity an entirely different descrip-
ton of food is formed within, and, as the
kernel hardens, it is not unfrequently
mixed with mashed tarO root, and made
into sort of pudding, which is baked
in native earth ovens, and constitutes a
wholesome and palatable article of diet.
The trade in cOcOanuts and cocOanut
oil, carried on between some of the Pa
cific islands and more civilized nations,
is of considerable importance. We learn
that the island of Samoa alone furnished
in one year cOcoanuts to the value Of one
hundred and fifty thousand dollars,
which we're exchanged for various useful
articles of trade.
The native oil manufacturers obtain
oil from the kernel, which they crush in
sort of stone mortar, having a small
run out into an earthen pot, which is
placed underneath, in pit for its re.
ception. A very supporting kind OF
food is made from the kernel, thus de-
prived of its oil, by pounding it fine
beating it into mass, enveloping it in
cloths of cocoa fibre, and placing the
packs thus formed under stones, to soak
in sea water.
No part Of the cocoa palm is without
it's use, some of which we have endeav-
ored to describe. The timber, under the
name of "porcupine wood" is extensively
used in canoe building, and the manu-
facture of water pipes, paddles, clubs,
posts for houses, rafters, etc. The mid
ribs of the leaves make excellent baskets
the leaflets are split, plated, and made
into hats. An entire leaf is used as an
emblem of authority. Tied in bundles,
the leaves are placed around the palms,
so that their rustling may give notice OF
the movements of any person endeavor-
ing to stealthily ascend the tree. Ropes,
cordage, mats, Irvine, nets, and fishing
lines are made from the cOir, or cocoa
fibre; good black dyes are made from
cocoanut milk; cocoanut gum is much
used as dressing for the hair. Both
cocoanut palm flowers and roots are held
in high esteem as medicines; the burnt
kernel yields good lampblack, and the
nut-shelIs make convenient water-bottles
and drinking-cups.
"The Indian cocoanut alone
Is clothing. meat and trencher, drink and
Boat, cable, sail and needle, all in one"
To end the list of the gifts Of the good
palm are the eolian harps, which are
constructed from the fibres of the leaflets,
and are either placed about the huts or
ON some canoe, at the bows; so as they
plough their way through the waves
with their palm stores, the brisk sea-
breeze sings merrily, and cheers the
hardy islander on his wsy.-Claude Ains-
worth, in Wauerly.
! ROBERT NAPIER.-The cable an
nounces the death Of Robert Napier, the
renowned Scotch sbip-builder, who