stalks. These are of strength sufficient to bear a
person's weight. One of the blacks coming up made preparations to climb
to the summit of one of the trees. First, he fastened a band round the
stem, sufficiently large at the same time to admit his body; then,
pressing his back against the band, he worked his way up to the top.
Securing the band, he disappeared among the leaves. Presently he
returned with a bundle tied round his neck, and quietly descended the
stem as he had ascended, by means of the band. On reaching the ground
he presented us with what looked like three young cocoa-nuts growing
together. Sometimes I found that the fruit not only grows double, but
triple, and even quadruple. We broke the shell, and found the fruit far
superior to that of any cocoa-nut I had ever tasted, though resembling
it in flavour: in appearance and consistency it was more like the ice in
a pastry-cook's shop. We found it particularly refreshing, and there
was enough to supply all our party. The black had brought also the germ
of another fruit, and the crown of the trunk, which, like that of the
true cabbage-tree, makes an excellent dish like asparagus. It bears
flowers and fruit of all ages at the same time. The black showed us the
rings on the stem, which were about four inches apart. They are left by
the leaves falling off as the palm grows; and as two leaves fall off
every year, I conclude that they grow about eight inches in that time.
The coco de mer is as useful as the more common cocoa-nut. With the
leaves houses are thatched; the trunk serves for troughs and piping;
with the leaves and fibres of the petiole baskets and brooms are made;
from the fibrous bark rope called coir is manufactured--so are hats and
baskets; a beverage is extracted from the sap; beautiful cups are made
from the shell; oil is pressed from the fruit; and mattresses are
stuffed with the fibre which surrounds the shell; even the farinacious
matter contained in the stem is used as food, and is not a bad
substitute for sago. Indeed, there is no end to the useful ways in
which it may be employed.

We were not long in reaching the highest point in the island. This, Mr
Henley said, he had no doubt was the crater of a volcano which had long
ceased to emit fire; for though here and there we discovered lava and
ashes, the ground was almost entirely covered with a luxuriant
vegetation. We had a view of the unbroken horizon on every side, with a
n