DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2375#0228
MYSORE, CANARA, AND MALABAR.
223
they cannot bear the weight of the operator, and thus are deprived CHAPTER
of covers. On these the bunches produce only from five to a k^^^j
hundred nuts, while two hundred nuts are reckoned the average March 15-
produce of a covered bunch, and some bring five hundred to ma-
turity. Each tree commonly yields two good bunches, or three
small ones. The average produce is said to be 1 Maund, or 72 Seers
of boiled nut from fifty trees, or from each ^ parts of a pound.
A particular set of men are employed to cover the bunches, and cut
down the fruit. At each time they get two Rupees for every thou-
sand bunches, and are very dexterous. Round their ancles, andl
under their soles, they fix a rope made of plantain stems, and thus
unite their feet, which are then placed against the stem, and drawn
up together, while the climber holds on with his hands. Having
placed the rope and his feet firm against the stem, he first moves
up one hand, and then the other, and afterwards draws up his feet
again. In this manner he reaches the top of one tree, where he
secures himself by taking a round turn with a rope, which he carries
up in his hand. One end of this rope is tied to the middle of a short
stick, upon which the man seats himself, and performs his labour,
drawing up whatever he wants, from an attendant below, by means
of a line that he has fixed to his girdle. When he has done with
one tree, he unties his seat, secures it round his neck, and swings
the tree backwards and forwards, till he can reach another, upon
which he then throws himself, and again makes fast his seat. He
thus passes over the whole garden, without ever coming to the
ground. The trees that, from being too tall and slender, are un-
able to support a man's weight, have their fruit gathered by being
pulled towards a neighbouring tree by means of a hook. The cul-
tivators seem to under-rate the produce very much.
When the Betel-nut palm is thirteen years old, the garden is Blackpepper,
planted with either black pepper, or Betel-leaf vines, Avhich climb
upon the Areca. The pepper, as I have already mentioned, is of
223
they cannot bear the weight of the operator, and thus are deprived CHAPTER
of covers. On these the bunches produce only from five to a k^^^j
hundred nuts, while two hundred nuts are reckoned the average March 15-
produce of a covered bunch, and some bring five hundred to ma-
turity. Each tree commonly yields two good bunches, or three
small ones. The average produce is said to be 1 Maund, or 72 Seers
of boiled nut from fifty trees, or from each ^ parts of a pound.
A particular set of men are employed to cover the bunches, and cut
down the fruit. At each time they get two Rupees for every thou-
sand bunches, and are very dexterous. Round their ancles, andl
under their soles, they fix a rope made of plantain stems, and thus
unite their feet, which are then placed against the stem, and drawn
up together, while the climber holds on with his hands. Having
placed the rope and his feet firm against the stem, he first moves
up one hand, and then the other, and afterwards draws up his feet
again. In this manner he reaches the top of one tree, where he
secures himself by taking a round turn with a rope, which he carries
up in his hand. One end of this rope is tied to the middle of a short
stick, upon which the man seats himself, and performs his labour,
drawing up whatever he wants, from an attendant below, by means
of a line that he has fixed to his girdle. When he has done with
one tree, he unties his seat, secures it round his neck, and swings
the tree backwards and forwards, till he can reach another, upon
which he then throws himself, and again makes fast his seat. He
thus passes over the whole garden, without ever coming to the
ground. The trees that, from being too tall and slender, are un-
able to support a man's weight, have their fruit gathered by being
pulled towards a neighbouring tree by means of a hook. The cul-
tivators seem to under-rate the produce very much.
When the Betel-nut palm is thirteen years old, the garden is Blackpepper,
planted with either black pepper, or Betel-leaf vines, Avhich climb
upon the Areca. The pepper, as I have already mentioned, is of