It has been asserted, I believe by Lord Valentia, that cocoa-nut trees were injurious to the air in the places where they grew. Dr. Davy notices this in his excellent work on Ceylon, and says, “Respecting the good effect of the wind from the sea, there can be no doubt; and almost as little can be entertained respecting the ameliorating effect of cultivation, and the benefit derived from the shade of cultivated trees. Unfortunate would it be for the island, were the notions of a noble traveller on this subject correct, or were his suggestions, founded on these notions, carried into execution; who, supposing cocoa-nut trees to be injurious to the air, has recommended the destruction of those fine groves in the neighbourhood of Galle, with the idea of improving the wholesomeness of a place already remarkably wholesome. It was from notions similar to this, not long after we had possession of Trincomalie, that the majority of the cocoa-nut trees at that place were cut down, to the great detriment of the inhabitants, and to the deterioration rather than the improvement of the air. It is well established, and ought never to be forgotten, that it is not shade that is prejudicial in a hot climate; that it is not vigorous healthy vegetation that is noxious; but the accumulation of dead vegetable matter and its putrefaction; and that whilst every means are taken to prevent the latter, too much encouragement cannot be given to promote the former.”
It is interesting to see the natives ascend this lofty palm, to gather its fruit: they simply fasten a piece of bark round their feet, leaving between them a space of a few inches; they then clasp the tree, and ascend with great agility. In throwing down the nuts, a whirling motion is usually given to prevent their falling on the side, by which they may be burst.
The natives of the island of Tahiti, in one of their traditions, ascribe the origin of the cocoa-nut to its having grown from the head of a man: they have similar traditions for the origin of the bread-fruit, yams, &c. &c.
There are other species of the cocoas. The C. butyracea, a native of South America, the C. guiniensis, aculeata, nypa, &c. &c. all of which yield a fixed oil in use for various purposes.
Lionel Wafer, (1685,) when at the Island Cocoas, southern Pacific Ocean, (latitude 5° 15′ north,) attributes injurious effects to an indiscriminate use of the water of the cocoa-nut by some of his crew, by which that beverage was found unfit for a jollification; for he says, “Nor did we spare the cocoa-nuts, eating what we would, and drinking the milk; carried several hundreds of them on board. Some or other of our men went ashore every day; and one day, among the rest, being minded to make themselves very merry, they went ashore, and cut down a great many cocoa-trees, from which they gathered the fruit, and drew about twenty gallons of milk. Then they all sat down, and drank healths to the king, queen, &c. They drank an excessive quantity; yet it did not end in drunkenness. But, however, that sort of liquor had so chilled and benumbed their nerves, that they could neither go nor stand; nor could they return on board the ship, without the help of those who had not been partakers in the frolic; nor did they recover it under four or five days’ time.”
The continued use of the water contained in the young or green cocoa-nuts, is one of the causes attributed, (although I am inclined to consider it an erroneous opinion,) to produce the scrotal enlargements, &c. so often seen among natives of intertropical regions, more particularly those resident on the coast.
In a letter published in the Sydney Herald, of January 14th 1833, it is said, “The natives of Tahiti alone, make forty or fifty tons of cocoa-nut oil in the year, and all the other islands of the groups make an equal proportion. They sell it for calico, that costs about twopence-halfpenny per yard in England, and receive a fathom for four or five gallons. But the owners of vessels from this colony, (New South Wales,) find something more lucrative for their shipping than sending them to the islands, and the natives are discouraged at having no trade. The indigenous arrow-root remains undug, and the cocoa-nuts fall to the ground, and rot.” That the quantity of oil mentioned in the foregoing extract could be made, and even a much larger quantity, I do not doubt; but that it would pay a vessel to proceed from Sydney to the islands, I have my doubts: indeed it has been tried, and found a losing speculation,—native indolence causing much delay to the vessel; as, at one time they have a quantity of oil ready, at other times they are too indolent to manufacture any. Sending a vessel down, therefore, to the islands, is a risk, and as such it is well known to several of the Sydney merchants, although now and then good cargoes have been returned. With industry, however, those valuable and beautiful islands could produce abundance of cocoa-nut oil, sugar, arrow-root, and other articles of equal value; but, under the present state of things, I have not very sanguine hopes.
The names of the Cocoa-nut, and portions of the trees in different countries, where it is found indigenous.
Cocoa-nut—Niu—Society, Friendly, and Fidge Sandwich Islands, Rótuma, Annatom, Tanna, and Immer, (New Hebrides group.) Society Islands Tumu haari, root of the cocoa-nut tree; leaf of the cocoa-palm, Niau; stalk in the centre of the leaflet, Niu. (This part tied up in bundles, forms excellent brooms for ships’ decks.) The fallen unripe fruit, Poniu; cocoa-nut, nearly ripe, Omato; unctuous part of the kernel, Haro; coagulated, or old milk of the nut, Utu; outward covering of the nut, Iri Haari; the hard shell, Abu Haari. At the Tonga Islands:—The plaited fronds, for thatching houses, &c., Baula; husk of the cocoa-nut, Bulu; a shell, husk, &c., Gnedji; cocoa-nut shells, Gnedji niu; a kind of cocoa-nut, the husk of which is eaten, Gnono-gnóno; a very young cocoa-nut, Gnonu; large cocoa-nut shells, for water, Hohoni; a cup, or cocoa-nut shell for drinking out of, Ibu; the oil, emulsion of the cocoa-nut, Loloi.
This palm is widely spread over tropical regions; even a small islet just appearing above the surface of the “great waters,” is usually decorated by several, although yet uninhabited; the tough, thick covering of the nut protects the germ whilst it floats on the briny wave, borne by the currents to a barren spot, on which it germinates, and, its fruit falling, again springs up, until a magnificent grove decorates the before-barren islet, delighting the eye, and affording refreshment to the wearied navigator. Ifelue Island, and numerous others in the southern Pacific Ocean, are instances of this wonderful provision of nature.