ORIGINAL FOOD.

Otaki Mail, 21 February 1919, Page 4

ORIGINAL FOOD.

A DIET OF COCONUT. A GERMAN’S STRANGE LIPS, ' A rather striking person in tile coconut world, of the Southern Hemisphere, and living on the tiny island o! Kabaken, within tli« German New Guinea border, is Herr August Bagel' Jiaidt, “'tlie Apostle of the Coconut.’ 1 lie “Apostle” has many disciples: in Germany, and over 400 in America. His doctrine is that the coconut, as Hu “original food” v of inan, produces, all* God-like attributes in those wild sub sist on the kernel of the coconut.' food, and on the milk as drink., all animal foods to be completely fore sworn as unnatural. This coconut diet the “Apostle” admits may at first bihard' on tlfo teeth and the digestive or gans, but perseverance brings the reward'in the. cooling.of the blood, ami the ousting of aft passions. “ Tell me w hat you eat; and I will tell you what you are,” declares this strange man, who is not Only an “Apostle” of the coconut, bat a sin: orsiuppe-r as well, for he spent in lhe open. He is all c-::'. ■■ • n inaip. !• io a:'-"-:, die ,sing. ’- • no tin . aii. •s, in nothing but a color. . d Java.nvn ' Jo: 111-IciOn ',:s . ecu he receivi s visitors, tie 1.-, chung ■: to one of light blue sateen, with the addition of a grid wristlet vetch and a walking- stick. Life Under the .Palme.

Herr Engel hard t- is regarded as a ctank by many, but all allow ho is an unusual man. He possesses a magnificent library in a great open room under, the shades of tropical trees. Though a German he is a Pacifist, and stonily maintains war would be Uiibimm in this world if man liad confined himself to natural blood-cooling foods. The “Apostle” is a tall, handsome man of about thirty-five. lie lias lived on Kabaken for over fifteen years, and until recently with a partner owned the line coconut plantation that covers every aero of the island. Tie wears his Sight hair I mp. and it is always well -brushed. lie sleeps on a bed of fine sand heaped tip with four iron bed posts, on to which is hung a mosquito net. for his coconut diet has not saved him" from the Liam! fever, a mild disease that comes oil at intervals of every few weeks. lie is a student of our language, and speaks and writes Bug bsh as even few educated English people can: ids conversation teems with apt Shakesperenn quotations, and lie is the author of many books and pamphlets of his doctrines, published in America. An industry that can in these days claim'its own “Apostle” must attract'some attention. There is no doul.it that the future of coconut growing .is most promising and of incalculable value. .Tt must in the near future make a trade on the waters of the Pacific which will make commcr.cial history and. add a further lustre to the records of British trade.