Seaward, it was formed entirely of cocoa trees, but inland a large number of other trees were mingled with the palms.
All day the boys attempted to find some semblance of gum oozing from these trees.

With sharp pieces of shell they made incisions in the bark of each variety that they met with, to see if any fluid exuded which might be useful for this purpose, but in vain.
"If we can kill some animal or other," Ned said, "we might boil down its sinews and skin and make glue; as Tom and myself did, to mend our bows with, among the Indians on the pampas.

But even then, I question whether the glue would stand the action of the water." As to their subsistence they had no uneasiness.

Besides the cocoas, fruit of all sorts abounded.

In the woods parrots and other birds flew screaming among the branches at their approach, and although at present they had no means of shooting or snaring these creatures, they agreed that it would be easy to construct bows and arrows, should their stay be prolonged.