311 



A nourishing flour is obtained from the tuberous roots of 

 Toxica pinnatifida, which grows here plentifully ; but it does 

 not appear to be in general use. 



The different species o^ Arum, A. esculentum, macrorhizon, 

 and sagittifolium, as well as the Banana and the Bhizophoi'a 

 gymnorhiza, are severally cultivated, here and there, on the 

 various islands. The culture of the Banana seemed to 

 commence at Kaban ; but it was only at Aur that we saw it 

 bearing fruit. The species o^ Arum nowhere meet here with 

 the deep boggy soil that best suits them; indeed there is 

 nothing growing spontaneously on these islands which forms 

 an essential part of the food of the population. 



Besides these plants, there are commonly cultivated about 

 their dwellings two of the rarest wild species, which are very 

 ornamental; a Sida and a Crinum, whose sweet-scented 

 flowers, with those of Guef tarda speciosa, VolkamcBria inermis, 

 and at Aur the Ixora coccinea (?) are worn in pretty garlands 

 around the long coiled hair and in the ears of the poor 

 natives of Radack, who are distinguished by their general taste 

 for elegant decorations and great fondness for perfumes. 



The sea throws upon the reefs of Radack great trunks o^ Fig 

 trees from more northerly countries, with the Palms and Bam- 

 boos of the torrid zone. It thus supplies the wood necessary 

 for navigation, while the iron found in the wrecks of Europsean 

 vessels affords another requisite article. The only instruments 

 which they possess for working up the drift-wood are formed 

 of the valuable metal thus obtained. In confirmation of the 

 fact that much iron is thus procured, we saw a large piece of 

 timber lying on the strand, with the iron nails still remaining, 

 sticking in it, at a sheltered spot in Oldia, one of this groupe 

 of islands. From the same source the natives obtain another 

 treasure, a useful kind of very hard stone, which is found in 

 the roots and hollows of trees cast up by the sea. Iron and 

 stone belong to the chieftains, to whom they are compelled 

 to deliver these articles for a trifling remuneration, under 

 pain of punishment. 



The sea also wafts to these islands the fruits and seeds of 

 many trees, of which the greater part are not indigenous. 



