so lay hold of his head. But it was in vain that he sought it, and suddenly he rose, and rushed into the sea again, and there, before their eyes, became a huge fish and dived out of their sight. Then the men, having taken vengeance, went back to the village.
After many days the boy who had first spied upon the man bethought him of the head which had been thrown into the bush. And he went to seek it that he might know what had befallen it. But when he reached the spot where it had been thrown it was no longer there, and in its stead had grown up a slender palm, with spreading leaves. None knew what manner of plant it might be, and when it bore fruit men feared to eat of it lest perchance it might harm them. But at last a woman made bold to eat of the nuts and to anoint herself with the milky juice, and all saw that she was none the worse, but rather the better. Thus did all men come to know of the coconut, and from that time even until now is it our food and drink, and in many other ways doth it serve us. And that thou mayest know that the tale is true, look now upon a coconut from which the husk hath been taken away, and thou shalt see the face of the man whose head became the first coconut.
