Tree-climbing.
Another curious aid to locomotion is shown in the accompanying illustration.
In many parts of the world, where the cocoa-nut palm grows, the natives have invented a simple, but ingenious, plan for ascending the tall, curved stem. Such a thing as an upright palm-tree is unknown, and consequently the ascent of the branchless stem is not an easy task without artificial assistance.
When I treated of Warfare and the different modes of scaling walls, the climbing-spur was casually mentioned. The implement of the palm-climber, however, is simpler and more effective, as it leaves both hands at liberty when desired.
The man cuts a long piece of one of the tough and almost unbreakable creepers which festoon the trees of tropical climes. He passes it round the trunk which he wishes to climb, and fastens the ends firmly together, so as to form a large loose hoop. He then passes the hoop over his head, until it presses against his back, as seen in the illustration, and serves to support him as he leans against it.
Taking the hoop by the two sides, he lifts it up the trunk as far as he can, places the soles of his feet against the tree, and so walks up it, hitching the hoop upwards at every step. When he has reached the top of the tree, he supports himself entirely by the hoop, while his hands are at liberty to be used in getting the cocoa-nuts.
In the insect world there are many examples of support being given by a belt passing round the body.
Among the Butterflies, for example, there are many which, in their pupal stage of existence, are attached to upright stems. They are fixed to the stem by a few threads at the tail, answering to the feet of the tree-climber, while the body is kept in position by a stout silken thread passed loosely round it.
The illustration represents the pupa of the common Swallow-tailed Butterfly, while in the centre is the same insect in the perfect state as it appears when resting. It really seems as if the ancient habit of the pupa had been remembered by the perfect insect, the long ends of the hinder wings taking the place of the pupal tail, and the legs that of the belt.