CHAPTER XXV.

_A new excursion.—Palm-tree wine._

On entering our new plantation of fruit-trees forming the avenue
to Falcon’s Stream, we observed that they had not a vigorous
appearance, and that they inclined to curve a little in the stalk:
we therefore immediately resolved to support them with sticks,
and I proposed a walk to the vicinity of Cape Disappointment,
for the purpose of cutting some bamboos. I had no sooner pronounced
the words, than the three eldest boys and their mother exclaimed
at once that they would accompany me. Their curiosity had been
excited by the accounts Fritz and I had given of the variety
of amusing objects we had met with in our visit to the spot:
each found a sound and special reason why he must not fail to
be of the party:—one of the hens was observed to be brooding,
and some of the eggs of the heath-fowl were to be fetched and
laid under her;—our provision of candles was nearly exhausted,
and a new stock of berries must therefore be procured, for my
wife now repaired our clothes by candle-light, while I employed
myself in composing a journal of the events of every day:—Then,
the sow had again deserted us, and nothing could be so probable
as that we should find her in the acorn wood:—Jack would fain
gather some guavas for himself, and Francis must needs see the
sugar-canes he sucked with so keen a relish. In short, all would
visit this land of Canaan.

We accordingly fixed the following morning, and set out in full
procession. For myself, I had a great desire to explore with
more attention this part of our island, and to reap some more
substantial advantages from its produce. I therefore made some
preparations for sleeping, should we find the day too short for
all we might have to accomplish: I took the cart instead of the
sledge, having fixed some planks across it for Francis and his
mother to sit upon when they should be tired; I was careful to
be provided with the different implements we might want, some
rope machinery I had contrived for rendering the climbing of
trees more easy, since we could not always expect to meet with
a crab who should obligingly give us his assistance; and lastly,
some provisions, consisting of a piece of the salted tortoise,
some water in a gourd-flask, and one bottle of wine from the
captain’s store. When all was placed in the cart, I for this
time harnessed to it both the ass and the cow, as I expected
the load would be increased on our return; and we set out, taking
the road of the potatoe and manioc plantations. Our first halt
was at the tree of the colony of birds; close upon the same spot
were also the trees whose berries produced the wax for candles,
and intermixed with these some of the guava kind. On this second
occasion of seeing the birds, I recollected to what species they
belonged, which by naturalists is named _Loxia gregaria_ (Sociable
Grossbeak).

It was not without much difficulty that we conducted the cart
through the thick entangled bushes, the most intricate of which
I every where cut down, and we helped to push it along with all
our strength. We succeeded tolerably well at last; and that the
poor animals might have time to rest, we determined to pass several
hours in this place which furnished such a variety of agreeable
and useful objects. We began by gathering a bag full of the guavas;
and after regaling ourselves plentifully upon them, we put the
remainder into the cart. We next examined anew, and with close
attention, the interesting structure of the nest inhabited by
the colony of birds, and concluded, contrary to the opinion I
had formerly entertained, that the little green parrot was an
invader who had seized upon an empty place, and fixed himself
in it; for numerous flocks of the brown-coloured birds now passed
in and out, rested upon the bushes which produced the wax, and
devoured large quantities of the berries, which explained the
reason of their building their singularly-contrived abode in
this particular spot. We claimed the same privilege as the birds,
and had soon filled another bag with the berries we found means
to beat down from the bushes. Seeing them so greedily consumed
by those little animals, the boys desired to follow their example,
and accordingly tasted them, but found them too insipid for their
palate.

We had brought the monkey with us to search out the nests of
the heath-fowl, that we might seize upon the eggs; but we postponed
the setting him on this employment till we should again reach
the place on our way back, for fear of breaking the eggs in carrying.
We continued our way, and soon arrived at the caoutchouc, or
gum-elastic trees: I thought we could not do better than to make
a halt here, and endeavour to collect a sufficient quantity of the
sap, to make the different kinds of utensils, and the impenetrable
boots and shoes, as I had before proposed. It was with this design
that I had taken care to bring with me several of the most capacious
of the gourd rinds. I made deep incisions in the trunks, and
fixed some large leaves of trees partly doubled together lengthways,
to the place, to serve as a sort of channel to conduct the sap
to the vessels I had kept in readiness to receive it. We had
not long begun this process before we perceived the sap begin
to run out as white as milk, and in large drops, so that we were
not without hopes by the time of our return to find the vessels
full, and thus to have obtained a sufficient quantity of the
ingredient for a first experiment.

We left the sap running, and pursued our way, which led us to
the wood of cocoa-trees; from thence we passed to the left, and
stopped half way between the bamboos and the sugar canes, intending
to furnish ourselves with a provision of each. We aimed our course
so judiciously, that on clearing the skirts of the wood we found
ourselves in an open plain, with the sugar-cane plantations on
our left, and on our right those of bamboo interspersed with
various kinds of palm-trees, and in front the magnificent bay
formed by Cape Disappointment, which stretched far out into the
sea.

The prospect that now presented itself to our view was of such
exquisite beauty, that we determined to choose it for our
resting-place, and to make it the central point of every excursion we
should in future make: we were even more than half disposed to desert
our pretty Falcon’s Stream, and transport our possessions hither:
a moment’s reflection, however, betrayed the folly of quitting
the thousand comforts we had there with almost incredible industry
assembled: and we dismissed the thought with promising ourselves
to include this ravishing spot ever more in our projects for
excursions. We disengaged the animals, that they might graze
and refresh themselves under the shade of the palm-trees, and
sat down to enjoy our own repast, and to converse on the beauty
of the scene.

Our next proceeding was to divide amongst us the different
occupations which were the objects of our walk. Some scampered away
to the right to cut bamboos; others to the left, to secure the
sugar-canes, of both which a large bundle was collected, tied
together, and put into the cart. The bodily exertions made by the
boys again excited their desire to eat; they sucked some of the
canes, but their hunger was not appeased. Their mother, however,
refused to let them have the remainder of the provisions, and they
therefore cast a longing eye to the tops of the trees, where they saw
a great number of cocoa-nuts suspended. After a short deliberation,
it was determined that two of them should venture on climbing
to the top, a height of from sixty to eighty feet, and with the
hatchet which would be fastened to his waist, should beat them
down. Fritz and Jack had no hesitation; they selected the trees
which had most fruit for their attempt, and with my assistance
they proceeded a considerable way; but when left to themselves,
their legs and arms were too short to embrace the trunk of the
tree, and having no place of rest for either, they scampered
down again much quicker than they had ascended, chagrined and
out of countenance. It was now my part to interfere: I wished,
said I, to let you try for yourselves first; but though it may
be well to be possessed of personal courage, yet at your age,
my boys, it is advisable to distrust your own suggestions and
to ask advice from persons of experience: had you applied for
mine, I should have told you how impossible it would be for you
to mount such a tree as this without assistance. It is true,
very young sailor-boys mount to the heads of masts, which are
nearly as high; but then the mast is of small circumference,
and the boys have, besides, the aid of ropes. I have something
here which may answer the same purpose;—here are some pieces
of prepared shagreen, which must be tied round your legs; then
with this cord I shall fasten you by the body to the trunk of
the tree, but so loosely that it will move up and down when you
do; by sitting occasionally on this cord, you will be enabled
to rest when necessary, and so push on by little and little.
This manner of climbing trees is practised by savages and by negro
slaves with success. At first you will make but slow progress, but
after two or three experiments you will find no further difficulty.

The boys had listened with entire attention: excited by the
description I had made, they eagerly demanded to be equipped for the
experiment, and their success exceeded our expectation; they with
tolerable ease reached the top of the tree, where the thick tufted
foliage furnished a commodious seat, and from whence they sent forth
exulting salutations. They now took their hatchets and set to
work, when presently a shower of cocoa-nuts descended, from which
the persons below had barely time to escape by running to a distance.
The monkey having observed what was going on, took the fancy
of imitating his young masters, and springing from the ground
into one of the trees, he with his teeth and his paws sent down
as many nuts as the hatchet: he then came down with equal swiftness,
and seating himself on the ground began to crack one of the nuts,
making all the time such strange grimaces as to occasion us all
much merriment. The two boys had descended with more caution than
the monkey, and with perfect safety: they received our compliments
on the skill and address they had evinced in so promptly making
themselves masters of so valuable an art.

Ernest was the only person who took no part in this animated
scene: his brothers began to banter him a little on the old subject
of his indolence; they approached him gravely, and offered him
some cocoa-nut, _to refresh him after so much fatigue;_ he made
no reply, and pushed the offering aside. He then rose from his
seat, and began to examine the trees one by one with deep attention;
he requested me to saw off the top of a cocoa-nut for him, which
he emptied, and fastened round it cross-ways a string with a
loop to hang it to the button of his waistcoat. Not one of us
could imagine what he was going to do; he placed a small hatchet
in his girdle, and then advancing a few paces out of the group
we formed, he in a graceful manner pronounced the following little
address:

“I am sensible, my dear parents, that in our republic, or rather
in our kingdom, (for our father is to us as a beloved sovereign,
and our mother as a much cherished queen,) I am I say sensible,
that here, as in Europe, he who has sufficient talent to raise
himself above the rest, is held in high consideration and esteem.
For my own part, I must confess I had more pleasure in remaining
in tranquillity without endeavours to obtain distinction. I have
but little ambition, and am fond of quiet, and therefore the
greater will be my desert, if I, like the rest, resolve to contribute
to the general good of this our country, by executing, as the
other subjects have done, the task of climbing trees; well satisfied
if, like them, I should obtain the applauses of my king and of my
fellow-citizens!—To the tree then, since climbing is the question,”
said he, saluting us with his hand as he sprang away to a high
palm-tree of the cabbage species[13].

I looked with extreme curiosity; but when I saw him courageously
grasp the trunk with his legs and arms, and proceed to climb
without assistance, I approached the tree and offered him the
shagreen and the cord; he accepted the first, but refused the
cord. I am naturally somewhat awkward, observed he, and to have
to draw a cord after me would only add to my difficulty; besides,
I think I have no occasion for it. In fact, he employed so much
earnest desire in the undertaking, and exerted his limbs with
so much spirit, that I was astonished at the rapidity of his
ascent, and conceived at every remove the most terrible alarm,
since the further from the ground, the more danger would attend
him, should any slip or other accident occasion him to fall.
I kept my station near the foot of the tree, continually encouraging
him by calling out: Bravo, bravo, boy Ernest, though last in
attempt, yet it is you who have shown the greatest courage, for
you have not, like your brothers, had assistance from the cord.
Fritz and Jack, who were spectators also, now, instead of seeming
humbled by my repeated commendation of Ernest, to my great surprise,
were observed whispering each other with an air of self-satisfaction;
I could not for my own part conceive what could be the subject
of their seeming exultation, but I soon learnt the truth. When
Ernest now showed himself at the very top of the tree, Fritz
and Jack burst into an immoderate fit of laughter:—Pains enough
for nothing, master Ernest, bawled they as loud as they could:
in your sublime wisdom, master Ernest, you have chosen a tree
which has no fruit upon it. Not a single cocoa-nut will you bring
down, your most devoted fellow-subjects can truly assure you!

Not a cocoa-nut, certainly, replied Ernest in his loudest voice;
but, brothers, you shall receive a crown instead, and at the
same instant he with his hatchet cut off the tufted summit of
the palm-tree, and a large mass of tender leaves fell at our
feet.

Mischievous boy! cried his mother: disappointed of his cocoa-nuts,
see if he has not cut off the head of this magnificent palm-tree,
and it will perish in consequence! Ah! Ernest, what do you not
deserve for thus giving way to anger!

I am happy, mother, to be able to correct your mistake, cried
Ernest from his stately column, where he stood erect, and looked
exactly like a statue. What I have done was not from anger, but
from a desire to procure you one of the finest kinds of food
this country affords; the tree is the cabbage palm-tree, and
believe me you will find it a more valuable acquisition than
even our highly prized cocoa-nuts!—A cabbage! exclaimed Fritz:
Ah, ah! Master Ernest, so you would make us believe that cabbages
grow on palm-trees, and that we are in a land of wonders!

In a land of wonders, my son, we can never fail to be, in whatever
place we may abide, for the whole scheme of nature is a perpetual
tissue of wonders proceeding from the hand of a beneficent Creator;
and those we now behold appear to us extraordinary, only because
we view them for the first time. Examine this production, to
which the name of palm-cabbage has been given by naturalists;
it has not the shape of our European cabbage; but, as Ernest
tells you, it is a most delicious and refreshing food: he has
also had the merit of distinguishing this tree from others: and
let me seize the present occasion, young ones, to reprove you for
the taunting spirit in which you viewed your brother’s proceedings,
who, though less enterprising and less alert than you, so far
surpasses any one of you in observation and reflection. To him
we are indebted for the most useful of the discoveries which
have been made—the potatoes and the manioc: if, instead of envying
each other, you were to unite your various endowments, what happiness
and what success might be the result! Ernest would think for
you, you would execute for him; thus, all would share in the
advantages which would result from this spirit of concord, so
necessary among mankind, but particularly among brothers. Let
me also recommend to you to accustom yourselves to suspend your
judgement on the actions of another, till those actions are complete
and you are quite sure both of their object and effect. Even
you, well-beloved of my heart, were not on this occasion free
from blame towards your boy! Try then to make him such reparation
as your kind maternal heart shall dictate!

Most willingly, cried she, her eyes filling with tears of tenderness;
and she looked up to invite him to come down: mine and the boys’
followed in the same direction; when we beheld Ernest in a fixed
erect position in the very centre of the palm-tree, which he
had stripped of its crown, as motionless as if he had become
a cabbage. The whole effect of this spectacle was irresistibly
ludicrous; and accordingly the boys, in spite of the lecture
I had that moment concluded, burst into an immoderate fit of
laughter.

I now called out to Ernest: Do you mean, said I, to stay all
night in your tree, or are you afraid to trust yourself with
coming down?

Far from it, father, answered he; but I am engaged in preparing
you here some good sauce for the cabbage, and the operation takes
a longer time than I imagined: but have a little patience, and
I will bring down something for you to drink to my health.

What can he mean? asked little Francis; I dare say he has found
a fountain in the tree; do you know, papa, I have been thinking
that this must be an enchanted forest, like those I have read
about in my little books; perhaps some of those trees are all
the time princes and princesses:—do you not think it very likely,
brother Fritz? said the young innocent with so real and fearful
a persuasion, that we all laughed heartily as we answered his
question. His mother took him on her knee and explained to him the
nature of a fairy-tale, while the scene for my own part strengthened
me in the opinion that children should be told nothing but the
truth.

By this time Ernest had finished his work, and was descending
cautiously from the tree. When he reached the ground, he released
the cocoa-shell from his button, held it delicately in one hand,
while with the other he drew from his pocket a small bottle,
and pulling out the cork he emptied the contents into the shell,
and presented it to me, saying: Most gracious sovereign, permit
your devoted cup-bearer to present you with a specimen of a new
and choice beverage he has been so fortunate as to procure for you:
may it be pleasing to your royal taste: it is called palmist-wine,
and your faithful slave waits but your commands to obtain a larger
supply! . . . . .

My wife and the other boys looked on in astonishment. I was myself
less surprised, having read accounts of this production in different
books. I was, however, much gratified to owe the acquisition
to the study and reflection of my young philosopher, as I now
called Ernest. It is excellent, my boy, said I, and we shall
unite in drinking it to your health, with sensations of gratitude
and affection. This was accordingly done.

I then made some inquiries of Ernest, as to his previous knowledge
of the tree and its properties; and he answered, that if he had
been quite sure of these being the kind producing cabbage, he
should sooner have ascended. I knew, continued he, that there
was a sort of palm which bore a cabbage at the top; and while
my brothers were getting up for the cocoa-nuts, I was looking
about in hopes to find it, and presently I thought that the tree
which had no cocoa-nuts was most likely to be the sort; and you
see I was lucky, in my guess. He then related his expectation
of finding some of our famous palm-wine also. When I had cut
off the cabbage, said he, a quantity of juice issued from the
place, which I tasted and found delicious: you know the rest,
father, added he; and I have only to regret that I had not a
larger bottle to receive it; but now that we know the means,
we can obtain the liquor when we please.

A small quantity at a time, observed I, will always be best;
for the juice, though so like to Champaign in flavour, and which
would perhaps affect our heads as soon if we were to use it freely,
would by to-morrow, like the cocoa-milk, be quite sour: as there
are abundance of the trees, we can, as you say, procure the liquor
at pleasure, only taking care to be moderate; for it is affirmed
by writers on natural history, that if the cabbage at the top
is cut off, the tree dies, and we should therefore in time destroy
the species. There are other sorts of palm-trees besides those
we have noticed; one in particular, which yields a kind of oil
which burns whatever it is applied to; we shall perhaps meet
with it. In the mean time, let us render thanks to Providence
for the benefits he has bestowed.

It was now past noon; and as we had determined to pass the night
in this enchanting spot, we began to think of forming some large
branches of trees into a sort of hut, as is practised by the
hunters in America, to shelter us from the dew and the coolness
of the air, for we had dismissed our fears of the approach of
wild-beasts, not having in so long a time been visited by any.
I accordingly set to work; I had brought a piece of sail-cloth
with me from Falcon’s Stream, and I drove some stakes into the
ground, and covered them with it, filling the opening in the
front with some branches I had cut for the purpose. While we
were engaged in our work, which was nearly completed, we were
suddenly roused by the loud braying of the ass, which we had
left to graze at a distance but a short time before. As we approached
nearer to the place, we saw him throwing his head in the air,
and kicking and prancing about in a most extraordinary manner;
and while we were thinking what could be the matter, he set off
on a full gallop, leaving us in a state of astonishment at all
we saw. Unfortunately, Turk and Porto, whom we sent after him,
took the fancy of entering the plantation of the sugar-canes,
while the ass had preferred the direction of the bamboos on the
right. We began to fear the approach of some wild beast might
have frightened the creature, and to think of assembling our
fire-arms. In a little time the dogs returned, and showed no
signs, by scenting the ground or otherwise, of any pursuit. I
made a turn round the hut to see that all was well, and then
sallied forth with Fritz and the two dogs in the direction the
ass had taken, hoping the latter might be enabled to trace him
by the scent; but the familiar creatures could not be made to
understand our meaning; they lived habitually with the ass, and
had no notion of the new reason for following him; so that they
did no more than run from place to place for their amusement;
and as night was coming on, I prudently gave up the pursuit and
returned to my companions.

Fatigued, and vexed with the loss of the ass, which was so eminently
useful to us, I entered the hut, which I found complete and provided
with the necessary branches strewed on the ground for sleeping,
and with some reeds for making a fire, which the freshness of
the evening air rendered agreeable to all: it served us also
for cooking our supper; and after it had been partaken by us
all, we were glad to lie down upon the branches and enjoy the
blessing of sleep. When all was safe, I watched and replenished
the fire till midnight, rather from habit than the fear of wild
beasts, and then took possession of the little corner assigned
me near my slumbering companions.