1840.] BOTANY. 305 



have recourse to the roots of the fern. They are quite partial 

 to rice, and as fond as bears, of sugar, molasses, and other sweet 

 things. The Polynesian mode of cooking was formerly in 

 vogue, but it has now given place to the iron pot, in which 

 everything is boiled. Where the influence of the mission- 

 aries has not proved sufficient to restrain their appetites, they 

 are much addicted to the use of spirituous drinks, and scenes 

 of revelry and debauchery, in which both sexes participate, 

 are often witnessed in the native pas. They also make for 

 themselves a very pleasant beverage, resembling spruce beer, 

 and having slight intoxicating properties, which they call 

 wai-maori. They are quite fond of tobacco, and often use it 

 to excess. 



The custom of taboo has yet the force of law. It is for 

 the most part enforced with great strictness, and carefully 

 observed ; and it is found exceedingly useful in protecting their 

 kumara-patches and vegetable gardens. 



Funeral ceremonies are noisy enough ; a few rounds of 

 musketry being always regarded as a sine qua non. When 

 a chief dies, unusual attention is paid to the rites of sepul- 

 ture. A small canoe is cut through the middle, and the two 

 sections being joined together, the body is placed in the cavity. 

 These receptacles of the departed chiefs are painted some 

 bright color, and ornamented with feathers. Instead of being 

 deposited in the ground, however, they are placed beneath 

 sheds, round about which are fence inclosures. 



(7.) Owing to the prevalence of the dark green foliage of 

 the evergreens, New Zealand wears the appearance of per- 

 petual vegetation. Yet the islands are not within the tropics, 

 neither do they possess the fruits or vegetables indigenous to 

 countries so situated. Barren wastes alternate with their 

 dense forests ; and nowhere is there exhibited the exuberance 

 of growth in the vegetable kingdom that may be witnessed 

 in warmer latitudes. Scandent and parasitic plants, which 

 always add so much to the beauty of tropical landscapes, are 

 rarely met with ; though now and then a tree may be seen 

 completely garlanded over with vines. The timber trees 



