94 Foreign Notices : — Polynesia, 



tea to eighteen, of small size, and a very dark green colour; each capsule 

 contains six or more small brown seeds, embedded in a white pithy sub- 

 stance. 



The Inocarpiis edidis, or if o£ the natives, is also abundant at this island: 

 it is the maipe, or rata, of the Island of Tahiti ; and is called the South 

 Sea [or Otaheite] chestnut by Europeans. It is a lofty tree, attaining 

 the elevation of 50 or 60 ft. The trunk of this tree has a singular appear- 

 ance, more particularly after it has attained some age : this singularity con- 

 sists in projections from the trunk, like buttresses, standing out some dis- 

 tance from what seems to be the actual trunk, and may be said to have an 

 appearance of several trees united together ; these buttresses extend from 

 the root to the branches, being widest at the base. The wood of this tree 

 is close-grained, but not durable, and is seldom used, except as fire- 

 wood ; the leaves are oblong, long, and of a dark green colour. The 

 flowers are in racemes, small, white, and fragrant. The fruit is highly 

 esteemed, and, when roasted or steamed, has the taste of a chestnut. " It 

 fattens man as well as pig," say the Rotuma natives ; and is much used by 

 them as an article of food. The fruit grows in clusters, is flat, and some- 

 what reniform. The kernel is solitary, and enclosed in a thick tough co- 

 riaceous covering, of a dark yellowish colour when mature, and contains 

 much farinaceous substance. This tree is of very handsome growth. At 

 Rotuma I usually observed it growing on the elevated land. At tlie 

 Island of Tahiti, it appeared to grow most luxuriantly in the valleys, by the 

 margins of rivers, &c. 



Vrtica argentea. By the pathways, growing in a wild state, may be 

 observed the f/rtica argentea, called amea by the natives : the inner bark 

 of which is used by them in the manufacture of a fine kind of matting, as 

 well as of fishing-nets, lines, &c. 



Tunning Plants. Twining over the dense thickets are seen several species 

 of Convolvulus, as well as a species of H6y« (which I saw also at Ton- 

 gatabu and Erromanga) bearing greenish white flowers [Hoya viridifl6ra ?] ; 

 also the foi (Convolvulus brasiliensis), hoi of Tahiti, with its broad, cor- 

 date, dark, shining, green leaves, and bearing a potato-like fruit, which is 

 only eaten in times of scarcity, and then, previously to being used, is soaked 

 for a short time in water. 



Fan Palm. Among the palm tribe (besides the valuable cocoa palm) I 

 observed a small species of fan palm, called fakmor by the natives ; the 

 leaves of which are used as wrappers for their mats,&c., and also serve the 

 purpose of umbrellas. A native carries one over his head, to shelter him 

 from the fervency of the tropical sun. 



A Species of Sagus. On the elevated land grew (both wild and planted 

 by the natives) a species of Sdgiis ; differing from that found in the Eastern 

 Archipelago, &c., in having pyriform instead of rotundiform fruit : the 

 petioles of the leaves, as well as the trunk, are armed with thorns, growing 

 in a retrorse or downward direction ; the back part of the central stalk of 

 the leaflets is also epinated [aculeate] ; the fruit grows in large bunches. 

 This palm is called hoat by the natives ; and I have seen it growing to the 

 height of 20 or 30 ft. Some natives of Tongatabu, who were on board 

 our ship at the Island of Rotuma, when they saw the fruit, said it also 

 grew at the Island of Tongatabu, where it was called niu sava. I never 

 observed it myself at that island. The natives of Rotuma eat the pith of 

 the tree, which they said " tasted like the mara, or arrow-root." They 

 extract the pith, and rub it down between stones. The fruit is also eaten 

 when very young ; that is, the soft pith-like substance which surrounds the 

 hard stone. The fruit, however, is principally kept for planting, as the tree 

 is also highly valued for its fronds, which, on account of their durability, 

 are used for thatching their houses. I should consider this species as 

 peculiar to elevated land, as I never, in one instance, at Rotuma, observed 



