338 AGRICULTURE. [1840. 



the rich and variegated dyes of innumerable creepers, are 

 scattered over the landscape. Here and there may be seen 

 the rich orange-colored fruit of the xyloearpus, or the white 

 tufts bursting from the capsules of the cotton-tree. The 

 numerous family of the orchidese are lavish in. the display of 

 their charms. Beautiful mosses cling to the tall forest-trees, 

 whose dark foliage contrasts so well with the gay parterre 

 smiling in beauty and loveliness beneath them. Arborescent 

 and trailing ferns adorn the acclivities of the mountains. 

 Mingled with all these varied forms of vegetation, there are 

 aromatic shrubs dispensing their fragrance on every hand ; 

 and while the beholder feasts his eyes on the beauties before 

 him, he inhales an odor delightful as the ambrosia of 

 Olympus. 



Agriculture is one of the principal employments of the 

 poorer class of natives ; the chiefs and higher dignitaries 

 being relieved from the necessity of labor, by the exactions 

 imposed on those below them in rank and position. The 

 earth in their plantations, and their yam and taro patches, 

 is dug up for the most part with sharp-pointed sticks, though 

 spades and shovels, usually made after a very rude fashion, 

 have been introduced to some extent. Before working the 

 soil, in new ground, they set fire to the underbrush, or the 

 dry native grass, (scirpus.) which is coarse and thickly mat- 

 ted, and often spreads over large tracts of country. The 

 young banana or mulberry trees, or the cane sprouts, are 

 then set out, and the yam and taro planted. So far the labor 

 is mainly performed by the men ; but the women do most 

 of the weeding, and when the yams and taros are dug, or 

 other fruits gathered, they are obliged to cany them to the 

 places where they are deposited for safe-keeping. In fact, 

 nearly all burdens are borne by the women on their backs, in 

 jars or baskets, which are secured from falling, by cords 

 passing round and under the shoulders. Often may a Feejee 

 woman be seen staggering under a heavy load, like the squaw 

 of the North American savage, while her lord and master 

 saunters leisurely along at her side. 



