266 MR. T. F. CHEESEMAN ON 
Mucuna gigantea, Jasminum didymum, and several species of [pomea. The undergrowth 
is largely composed of Ferns, Asplenium Nidus being particularly abundant. There are 
also a few shrubby plants, such as Morinda citrifolia, Plectronia barbata, Guettarda 
speciosa, and Piper latifolium. 
Round the villages of the natives the following are invariably found :—Lrythrina 
indica, Cordia subcordata, Hibiscus Rosa-sinensis, and Acalypha tricolor. The natives 
assert that they are truly indigenous, and it certainly appears that they were known on 
the island when Europeans first visited it. But I failed to find them in any situation 
where they had the appearance of being truly wild, and suspect that they were 
introduced by the natives themselves either from Tahiti or Samoa, possibly at such a 
remote period that all recollection of the event has been lost. At present they are 
associated with such plants as the Frangipani (Plumeria), Oleander (Nerium), and 
Euphorbia (Poinsettia) pulcherrima, which are known to be recent introductions. 
The food-plants most commonly cultivated at the present time are the Banana, of 
which many varieties are grown ; the Bread-fruit ; the Taro (Colocasia antiquorum); the 
Kape (Alocasia macrorhiza) ; and several species of Yams (Dioscorea). The cultivations 
are usually patches of small size some distance apart, and they are by no means carefully 
attended to. Their neglected appearance and slovenly condition must be in strong 
contrast to that existing when the island first became known to Europeans, judging 
from the description given by Mr. Williams in his well-known book ‘ Missionary 
Enterprise.’ He says :—‘ The whole island was in a high state of cultivation, and I do 
not recollect having witnessed anything more beautiful than the scene presented to me, 
when standing on the side of one of the hills, and looking towards the sea-shore. In 
the first place, there are rows of superb chestnut-trees (Jnrocarpus) planted at equal 
distances, and stretching from the mountain’s base to the sea, with a space between each 
row of about half a mile wide. This space is divided into small taro beds, which are 
dug four feet deep, and can be irrigated at pleasure. These average about half an acre 
each. The embankments round each bed are thrown up with a slope, leaving a flat 
surface on the top of six or eight feet in width. The lowest parts are planted with Taro 
(Colocasia) and the sides of the embankments with Kape or gigantic Taro (Alocasia), 
while on the top are planted at regular intervals small beautifully shaped bread-fruit 
trees. The pea-green leaves of the Taro, the extraordinary size of the Kape lining the 
sloping embankment, together with the stately bread-fruit trees on the top, present a 
contrast which produces the most pleasing effect.” At tbat time the island was densely 
populated, the inhabitants being estimated at about 30,000, or nearly ten times the 
present number. To feed so many people the cultivations must not only have been many 
times larger than at present but must also have required unremitting care and attention. 
A good idea of the former extent of the cultivations can be gathered from the number 
of abandoned Taro-beds, now mostly overgrown with trees, which stretch far up the 
valleys of the larger streams. 
p der. - s d is seldom visited. "The total absence of tracks, 
> Jungle-like forest that everywhere covers the 
e = ace are perhaps sufficient reasons for this. The natives make periodical excursions 
