Page:Traits and Trials.pdf/176

170 uncommon, but I think we saw none so high. The fruit grows in immense clusters at the top of the stem, close up to the branches. The tree from top to bottom is surrounded by a series of rings, doubtless the traces of former circles of branches which have successively flourished, decayed, and fallen off. These rings are very distinct near the top; but lower down the trunk becomes so smooth that the natives are obliged to cut notches to assist them in getting up, either to pull the fruit, or to tap the tree of its juice, which is called toddy by the English. "The method used by the natives of the east in performing this feat of climbing—In the first place, they unite their feet, either at the great toes or ankles, by a thong or strap about ten or twelve inches in length. This lies across the steps or notches cut in the tree, and is strong enough to support the whole weight of the body. A flat broad belt is then made to pass round the tree, and also round the man's middle, enclosing both in one ring, as it were, the body being at the distance of a foot or so from the tree. The climber commences by placing the strap which ties his feet together across the first or lowest step, while he adjusts the belt, embracing him and the tree so as to be horizontal, he then plants his hands firmly against the stem, and a foot, or a foot and a half, below the belt. By now leaning back and tightening the body-belt, he divides his weight between it and his arms, so as entirely to relieve the foot-strap of all strains. The legs are next drawn up quietly, till the foot-strap lies across the second notch. The climber now removes his hands from the tree, and grasps the body-belt, which becomes quite slack on his throwing his body forward till it almost touches the stem—his whole weight meanwhile resting on the foot-strap. By a sudden movement he then jerks the slackened belt about a foot and a half further up the tree. After this he

Close beside, like a vein of silver, they found a pure, though small, fountain; they steeped some of