T H E P A C I F I C O C E A N. 331 



that all at once ; for every leaf is fucceeded by another, \7-7- 



^ July. 



as fad as it falls ; which caufes that appearance of univerfal 

 and continual fpring found here. 



The bafis of the ifland, as far as we know, is entirely a 

 coral rock, which is the only fort that prefents itfelf on the 

 fliore. Nor did we fee the leaft appearance of any other 

 {tone, except a few fmall blue pebbles (Irewed about the 

 fatookas; and the fmooth, folid black ftone, fomething like 

 the lapis lydius, of which the natives make their hatchets. But 

 thefe may, probably, have been brought from other iilands 

 in the neighbourhood ; for a piece of liatey, iron-coloured 

 ftone was bought at one of them, which was never feen here. 

 Though the coral projefts in many places above the farface, 

 the foil is, in general, of a confiderable depth. In all cul- 

 tivated places, it is, commonly, of a loofe, black colour ; 

 produced, feemingly, in a great meafure, from the rotten 

 vegetables that are planted there. Underneath which is, 

 very probably, a clzy qj Jl rat mi ; for a foil of that kind is often 

 feen both in the low, and in the rifmg grounds ; but efpecially 

 in feveral places toward the fliore, where it is of any height; 

 and, when broken off, appears fometimes of a reddifh, 

 though oftener of a brov/nifh yellow colour, and of a pretty 

 llifF confiftence. Where the lliore is low, the foil is com- 

 monly fandy, or rather compofed of triturated coral; which, 

 however, yields bufhes growing with great luxuriance ; 

 and is fometimes planted, not unfuccefsfully, by the na- 

 tives. 



Of cultivated fruits, the principal are plantains ; of which 

 they have fifteen different forts or varieties; bread-fruit j 

 two forts of fruit found at Otaheite, and known there un- 

 der the names of jambu and eeevec ; the latter a kind of 



U u 2 plumb J 



