Page 293
An.1686
Toddy and Arack, Liquors made of the Coco-tree.
Apple, which Nature hath so contrived, that it points to the hole in the Shell, (of which there are 3, till it grows ripe, just where it's fastend by its Stalk to the Tree; but one of these holes re- mains open even when it is ripe, ) through which it creeps and spreads forth its Branches. You may let these teeming Nuts sprout out a foot and half or 2 foot high before you plant them, for they will grow a great while like an Onion out of their own substance.
Beside the Liquor or Water in the Fruit, there is also a sort of VVine drawn from the Tree called Toddy, which looks like VVhey. It is sweet and very pleasant, but it is to be drunk within 24 hours after it is drawn, for afterwards it grows fowre. Those that have a great many Trees, draw a spirit from the fowre Wine, called Arack. Arack is di- ftill'd also from Rice, and other things in the East Indies; but none is so much esteemed for ma- king Punch as this sort, made of Toddi, or the sap of the Coco-nut Tree, for it makes most deli- cate Punch; but it must have a dash of Brandy to hearten it, because this Arack is not strong enough to make good Punch of it seif. This fort of Li- quor is chiefly used about Goa; and therefore it has the name of Goa Arack. The way of draw- ing the Toddi from the Tree, is by cutting the top of a Branch that would bear Nuts; but before it has any Fruit: and from thence the Liquor which was to feed its Fruit, distils into the hole of a Callabash that is hung upon it. This Branch continues running almost as long as the Fruit would have been growing, and then it dries a- way. The Tree hath usually 3 fruitful Branches, which if they be all tapp'd thus, then the Tree bears no Fruit that year; but if one or two only be tapp'd, the other will bear Fruit all the while. The Liquor which is thus drawn is emptied out of the Callabash,