1779- THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 99 



of the 26th of January, on an expedition up the 

 country, with an intention of penetrating as far as 

 they could; and principally of reaching, if possible,, 

 the snowy mountains. 



Having procured two natives to serve them as 

 guides, they left the village about four o'clock in the 

 afternoon, directing their course a little to the south- 

 ward of the east. To the distance of three or four 

 miles from the bay, they found the country as before 

 described ; the hills afterward rose with a more sud- 

 den ascent, which brought them to the extensive 

 plantations, that terminate the view of the country, 

 as seen from the ships. 



These plantations consist of the* tarrow or eddy 

 root, and the sweet potatoe, with plants of the cloth- 

 tree, neatly set out in rows. The walls that separate 

 them are made of the loose burnt stones, which are 

 got in clearing the ground ; and, being entirely con- 

 cealed by sugar-canes, planted close on each side, 

 make the most beautiful fences that can be conceived. 

 The party stopped for the night at the second hut 

 they found amongst the plantations, where they 

 judged themselves to be about six or seven miles from 

 the ships. They described the prospect from this 

 spot as very delightful ; they saw the ships in the 

 bay before them ; to the left, a continued range of 



* Both the sweet potatoes, and the tarrow, are here planted 

 four feet from each other ; the former was earthed up almost to 

 the top of the stalk, with about half a bushel of light mould ; the 

 latter is left bare to the root, and the mould round it is made in 

 the form of a bason, in order to hold the rain-water, as this root 

 requires a certain degree of moisture. It has been before observed, 

 that the tarrow, at the Friendly and Society Islands, was always 

 planted in low and moist situations, and generally, where there was 

 the conveniency of a rivulet to flood it. It was imagined that this 

 mode of culture was absolutely necessary ; but we now found, that, 

 with the precaution above mentioned, it succeeds equally well in a 

 drier situation : indeed, we all remarked, that the tarrow of the 

 Sandwich Islands is the best we had ever tasted. The plantains 

 are not admitted in these plantations, but grow amongst the bread- 

 fruit trees. 



H 2 



