e savage men."

The tops of the trees came so short a distance above our hill, that Mr
Thudicumb thought, by erecting a post in the centre, we might have a
good look-out over the sea. The idea was so excellent, that we
accordingly at once went down the hill to obtain a tall and straight
tree for the purpose. A little way down the hill were some beautiful
cotton-trees. Although the trunk of the largest was not more than
twelve inches in diameter, it rose to a height of thirty feet, which we
thought would be sufficient for our purpose. The bark was of light
olive-green, remarkably smooth and fair. The limbs shot out in whirls,
at right angles to the trunk; and as they were separated by a
considerable space, they would form, we agreed, steps by which to mount
to the top. These trees appeared to great advantage, rising out of the
thick jungle amidst which they grew. The fruit, I may as well observe,
is a pod, and the fibrous substance within it greatly resembles cotton.
I do not know whether it can be used for the same purpose; but Mr
Hooker and our uncle employed it for stuffing the birds they killed. We
soon had one of these trees down, and fixed in the centre of the fort.
We stayed it up by ropes, while another rope hanging from the top
enabled us to ascend without difficulty. Our rope, I should say, was
formed from the fibre of the gomiti or sagaru palm-tree. The large
petioles of this tree spread out at the base into broad fibrous sheets,
which enclose the trunk. It is from this material that the natives of
these regions manufacture the coir-rope. It is a very coarse, rough
style of rope, for the fibres soon break, and projecting in every
direction, make it difficult to handle. We had an abundance of this
palm growing on the hill-side, as it prefers higher land than the
cocoa-nut. Its most valuable property is, being almost indestructible
in water. Among the fibres there are some coarser ones, with which the
Dyaks of Borneo manufacture arrows for their blow-pipes, and
occasionally the Malays use them for pins. Interwoven with them is a
mass of small fibre almost as soft as cotton. This, from its
combustible nature, is used as tinder. From the tree, also, a
refreshing beverage is extracted. The flower part is cut off with a
knife, when the sap which issues is gathered in a bamboo cup. It is now
of a slightly acid and bitter taste, resembling the thin part of
butter-milk. When this is allowed to ferm