River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-07-05
THE CoCOANUT TREE.
Its Remarkable Adaptehi'tty 10 Hm
man Requirements.

Its Remarkable Adaptahi'tty 10 Hu-
mar Requirements.
The cocoanut palm is chiefly confined
TO the seaboard regions OF the tropics,
and rarely found far Ia the interior,
although We remember of having seen
Several very fourishing trees about the
town of Santarim, Brazil, Mt distance
of 600 miles from the sea-boar1, Many
of the South Sea islands afe covered
with luxnritts groves these both useful
and ornamental trees. How they came
there is, to some extent, still involved
in mystery, since the currents OF the
ocean would have to transport fleets of
nuts dropped INTO the surf from the
oVerhanging cliffs Of their native homes,
before a single one, after completing its
far Journey, would be Cast up high and
dry enough by the breakers beating
against the lonely shores of tuese
lonely distant coral Islands of the
great Pacific, Since it is conceded
that some qfthess gtonps, such as the
Mar'ues3s Islands, have been settled by
tie natives of Papua as early as the
seventh century, it would be more rea-
sonable to ascrlbe the introduction OF the
cocoanut to human intervention than 81
that Of waves, pGrtictle9ly when we
bear IN fCiGd the importance OF the nut
to TIE natives of southern Asia on ac-
count of its nGtrtiye qualities To the
natives of many tropical tegiGh5 It is
equivalent TO the dete OF the Sahara or
MandloC Of South America. The fol-
lowing passages from Bonifas Guizots
botony for youth gives MS in the garb OF
oriental, allegolical language, an idea 0F
the immense advantages which the in
habltenis 0f tropical countries derive
from this one single species Of palms.
Imagine traveller passing through
one of these countries EitGated under
the. burning sky, where ceolnea8 htd
shade are SO rare enc where habita-
tions in which to take Tepose SO neces-
sary 50 travellers, are only to be found at
considerable distances. Painting and
dispirited, the poor wanderer at last
perceives hut surrounded by some
trees with straight erect stems. sur
mounted by all immense tuft Of green
leaves, come being upright aNd others
pendent, giving an elegant aspect 10 the
scene. Nothing else near the cabin in
dicates cultivated land. Atths sight the
spirits of the traveller revive, he collects
his strength, and is soon under the hos
pitable roof. His host offers him
sourlsh drink, he stakes his
thirst: it refreshes him. When
he has taken his repose, the
Indian sinvites him to share hi} repast.
He serves Up ,variotS meats. contained
in 4 Brown looking vessel, smooth and
glossy, he serves up also some wine OF
an extremely agreeable flavor Toward
the end of the repasl his host oilers him
certain Gsucculent comforts, and he is
made to taste some excellent spirits.
The astonished traveller asks who in this
desert country furnishes him with these
things. My cocOanut tree is the re-
ply. The water | presented you with
on your arrival is drawn from the fruit
before it IS ripe, and some OF the nuts
which contain it weigh three or four
pounds. This almond, 50 delicate in its
flavor is the fruit when ripe. This milk,
which you find so agreeable is drawn
from the nut; this cabbage whose flavor
is so delicate, is the tops of the coCoanut
but we rarely regale ourselves with this
delicay, for the trees from which the
cabbage is cnt, die soon
after. This wine with whichyon are so
satisfied, is still drawn from the cocoa
nut tree. Ia order to obtain il, an in
clslon is made into the spathe of the
eli
a white lig,""or, which is gathered in
:" PROPER vessels, and we call it palm
wine; exposed to the air it turns sour
and is used as vinegar.
BY distillation we obtain this very
good brandy which you have tasted.
The sap has Supplied the sugar, with
which these preserves are sweetened.
These vessels and utensils have been
made out of the shell of the nut Nor
is this all this habitation itself owe en-
tirely to these Invaluable trees;
with their wood my cabin is
constructed; their leaves dried and
plated for the roof; made into an timbrel-
la, they shelter me from the sun when |
walk; the clothes which cover me, are
woven out Of the filaments of their
leaves. These mats. which serve so
many useful purposes, proceed from
them also. The sitter, which you be-
hold, was found made to my hand in
that part of the tree whence the leaves
issue; with the same leaves woven to-
gether we make sails for ships; the
species of fiber, which envelope the nut,
is much preferable to tow for caulking
slips, as it does not rot in the water,
and swells in imbibinq it,. it makes ex;
Cellent strings ana all sorts OF cable ana
cordage. Finally, the delicate oil wi ich
has seasoned many of our meats, and
which is burned in my lamp, is ex-
pressed from the fresh kernel" The
stranger listened with establishment to
the poor Indian, who by only having
his cocoanut trees, had nearly everything
necessary to his existance. When the
traveller was again disposed to take his
departure, his host once more addressed
him: Il am going to write to friend
in the city, may ask You, to charge
yourself with my communication?
Eyes, but will your eocoanut tree still
supply you with the materiais?" Ger
tainly" said the Indian, with the saw
dust severed from the leaves | made the
ink, and with the leaves, this parch.
ment; in former times it was used to re-
cord all public and memorable ACTS"