Their flavour was
most delicate, as much so as the eggs of a moor-fed fowl. We saw
no birds sitting, but here and there the gaunt skeleton forms of
birds, who by reason of sickness or old age were unable to
provide for themselves, and so sat waiting for death, appealed
most mournfully to us. We went up to some of these poor
creatures, and ended their long agony; but there were many of
them that we were obliged to leave to Nature.
We saw no animals larger than a rat, but there were a great many
of those eerie-looking land-crabs, that seemed as if almost
humanly intelligent as they scampered about over the sand or
through the undergrowth, busy about goodness knows what. The
beautiful cocoa-nut palm was plentiful, so much so that I
wondered why there were no settlers to collect "copra," or dried
cocoa-nut, for oil. My West Indian experience came in handy now,
for I was able to climb a lofty tree in native fashion, and cut
down a grand bunch of green nuts, which form one of the most
refreshing and nutritious of foods, as well as a cool and
delicious drink. We had no line with us, so we took off our
belts, which, securely joined together, answered my purpose very
well. With them I made a loop round the tree and myself; then as
I climbed I pushed the loop up with me, so that whenever I wanted
a rest, I had only to lean back in it, keeping my knees against
the trunk, and I was almost as comfortable as if on the ground.
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