T H E P A C I F I C O C E A N. 145 



It is. doubtlcfs, the natural fertility of the country, combined _ '777- 



' J J J December. 



with the mildnefs and ferenity of the climate, that renders 

 tlie natives fo carelefs in their cultivation, that, in many 

 places, though overflowing with the richeft productions, 

 the fmallefl: traces of it cannot be obferved. The cloth 

 plant, which is raifed by feeds brought from the mountains, 

 and the ova^ or intoxicating pepper, which they defend from 

 the fun when very young, by covering them with leaves of 

 the bread-fruit-tree, are almofl the only things to which 

 they fcem to pay any attention ; and thcfc they keep very 

 clean. 



I have inquired very carefully into their manner of culti- 

 vating the bread-fruit- tree ; but was always anfwered, that 

 they never planted it. This, indeed, muft be evident to every 

 one who will examine the places where the young trees come 

 tip. It will be always obferved, that they fpring from the 

 roots of the old ones ; which run along near the furfacc 

 of the ground. So that the brcad-fruic-trecs may be rec- 

 koned thofc that would naturally cover the plains, even 

 fuppofmg that the illand was not inhabited ; in the fame 

 manner that the white-barked trees, found at Van Diemen's 

 Land, conftitute the forefls there. And from this we may 

 obferve, that the inhabitant of Otaheite, inftcad of being 

 obliged to plant his bread, will rather be under a neceffity 

 of preventing its progrefs ; which, I fuppofe, is fometimes 

 done, to give room for trees of another fort, to afford him 

 fome variety in his food. 



The chief of thefe are the cocoa-nut and plantain ; the 

 firfl: of which can give no trouble, after it has raifed itfelf 

 a foot or two above the ground ; but the plantain requires a 

 little more care. For, after it is planted, it fhoots up, and. 



Vol. II. U ill 



