OF FOREST-TREES.

369

most aged Oak: So as Fr. llernand.es, Garcilajso de la Vega, and book iv.other travellers* speaking of the Coco, Aloes, and Wild Pine of

. - - ■ ■■ - _ . . - . - - * Vide Raii.

~ II. PI 1. xxi.

The Palm tree resembles an indulgent mother, environed with greater and smaller- ca P> ''ii.children, at the same time feeding these and' bearing others, a rarity not experienced inother trees.

“ The emolument of the fruit Coco is very extraordinary, for divers ways it proves good •meat; while the kernel is yet in water, and full of liquor, the nut green, and not come tomaturity, the natives drink it as an exquisite regallo, being sweet and recreative, afford-ing a good cup of wholesome water called Lanha ; arrived to a greater consistence, like-that of cream, they eat it with spoons, then called Cocanha: come to the last perfection,-it is eaten, is savoury and well tasted : but being extremely -hot and of hard digestion, 1much of it is unwholesome, the nut Barca excepted, which is savoury and harmlefs. The ■thin rind which covers the kernel, black and good in medicine. This-nut grated and put”into the hollow joints of canes called Bambus is boiled, and of it is made Cuscusf. Thegratings steeped in water and squeezed, the milk they yield, makes a kind of brothfrequent amongst them, called Cerul, which is very delicious: The nut Coco is eaten :other different ways, which deservedly advance the esteem of this provision.- The two •rinds taken off, the kernel divided into two parts,* and exposed to dry in the sun, when'dried is called Copra ; of this great quantities go for the inland country, and whereno Olive-trees grow; oil made of which is toothsome, wholesome, and good for woundsand sores. This Copra eaten with Igra, (a sort of coarse Muscovadoes sugar, made of thesweet of the Palm-tree, as shall immediately be related) is a great dainty with the Indians.,

And that no part of the Coco may seem not valuable, and declaring the obligation human-:life hath to the Palm-tree, the outmost rind, called Cayro, not unlike tow,- well macerated-and drawn into threads, affords all sorts of fine thread, and ropes big. enough for thegreatest vefsels and ships, which are in great esteem for good and secure cables; they willendure stretching,- and rot not in salt water; these advantages -have they -above cables-made of hemp. The second rind, the immediate cover of the Coco, when green, is eaten-like Chardons, is tender, crackles in the mouth, and of-the same'effect in the stomach,,blacks the lips and fingers like Chardons; when ripe is-very hard and thin, calledCharetta, and made up for divers uses; charked, it admirably tempers iron, and is accord-ingly esteemed by artificers. Besides the related, divers other emoluments accrue fromthe Palm-tree and her fruits; the Palm-tree alone being sufficient to build, rig, and freight-a ship, with bread, wine, water; oil, vinegar, sugar, and other commodities. I have sailedin vefsels where the bottom and the whole cargo hath been from the munificence of thePalm-tree ; I will take upon me to make good what I have alserted. 1 he vefsels are bythe natives called Pangayos, on which I have coasted the land of Melinde, and gone intothe Red Sea : they venture not far from shore, being weak, without any binding of iron,unable to endure any strefs of weather or beating of the waves, therefore launch not out-into the main ocean. The Palm-tree yields plank, though weak and spungy, as if madeof tow : the planks are sewed together with fine thread, made of the outmost rind of the.

•j- A pafte l : ke the Italian .Vermicelli,