certain that they will keep good during a long
voyage. One difficulty can be got over more easily than I at first
supposed; for the thick ends of the large bamboos will, I have no doubt,
carry a quantity of water, though I am afraid they will take more space
in stowing than I would wish. If the doctor succeeds in producing sago,
we shall have a substitute for bread; and it also may be preserved in
bamboo casks. I think, too, that we may manage to salt and smoke the
birds and fish we may catch; though, without hooks and lines, we can
only hope occasionally to kill some larger fish with our harpoons."

"I have been thinking, Mr Shobbrok," observed Walter, "that I could
make some fish-hooks from nails, with the help of a small file which I
have in my knife; and as we have plenty of rope, we may unpick some of
it, and twist some strong line."

"Pray set about it then, Walter," said the mate; "for time will be lost
if we go out in the boat in search of large fish to harpoon, when small
ones may be caught from the rocks on the seashore."

The next day the whole party started, under the guidance of the doctor,
to the spot where he had seen the sago palm. He observed that it was
the best time to cut down the tree, as the leaves were covered with a
whitish dust, which was a sign that the flower-bud was about to appear,
and that the sago, or pith within the stem, was then most abundant--it
being intended by nature for the support of the flowers and fruit. Nub
having climbed to the top of a tree, secured a rope, at which the whole
of the party hauling together, hoped to bring it down in the right
direction. The mate, axe in hand, then commenced chopping away. The
wood was tolerably soft, and as the weapon was sharp and he was a good
axe-man, the tree was soon cut through, and came crashing down to the
ground. He then, by the doctor's directions, divided the trunk into
pieces five feet in length. While he was thus occupied, the doctor got
his other companions to pull off the leaves, and to manufacture a number
of cylindrical baskets--in which, he told them, he intended to put the
pulp produced from the pith. The tree being cut up, ropes were fastened
to each piece, to enable them to be dragged to the side of the river.
Two men were required for each. Walter and Alice tried to drag one of
the smallest, but could not move it over the rough ground; they
therefore carried the baskets, and remained by the river to assist the