154 A V O Y A G E T O 



^'777' over-population, which mult fometimes almofl neccfEirily 



December. ^ r r » / 



' M ' happen, or to wars, I have not been able to determine; 



though the truth of the faft may fairly be inferred, from 

 the great oeconomy that they obfervc with rerpe(5l to their 

 food, even when there is plenty. In times of fcarcity, after 

 their bread-fruit and yams are confumed, they have re- 

 courfe to various roots, which grow, without cultivation) 

 upon the mountains. The patana, which is found in vaft 

 quantities, is what they ufe firfl. It is not unlike a very 

 large potatoe or yam, and good when in its growing ftate ; 

 but, when old, is full of hard flringy fibres. They then eat 

 two other roots ; one not unlike /^/o; and, laRly, the ehoec:. 

 This is of two forts ; one of them polTefling deleterious 

 qualities, which obliges them to llice and macerate it in 

 water, a night before they bake and eat it. In this refpeiTii 

 . it refembles the cnjjava root of the Well-Indies ; but it forms 

 a very infipid, moid pallc, in the manner they drefs it. 

 However, I have feen them eat it at times when no fuch 

 fcarcity reigned. Both this and the patarra- are creeping 

 plants; tlie lafl, with ternate leaves. 



Of animal food, a very fmall portion falls, at any time, to 

 the fliareof the lower chifs of people; and then it is either fiflj, 

 fca-eggs,or other marine producftions; for they fcldom or ever 

 eat pork. The Eree de hoi* alone, is able to furnifli pork every 

 day ; and inferior Chiefs, according to their riches, once a 

 week, fortnight, or month. Sometimes, they are not even 

 allowed that; for, when the illand is impoveriflied by war, 

 or other caufes, the Chief prohibits his iubjecSts to kill any 

 hogs; and this prohibition, we were told, is in force, fome- 

 times, for feveral months, or even for a year or two. Dur- 



* Mr. Anderfon invariably, in his manufcript, writes Eree tie hoi. According to 

 Captnin Cook's mode, it is Erer rahie. This is one of the numerous inftances that 

 pcrpctu.illy occur, of our people's reprcfenting the fame word differently. 



; ing 



