570 Voyage of the Novara. 



cuticular disease. Inveterate Kawa drinkers seem haggard 

 or melancholy, their eyes are sunk, their teeth of a bright 

 yellow, their skin dry and chopped, and the whole body is 

 covered with boils ; but those in whom such sores heal up 

 again, point with pride to the cicatrices that mark where 

 they occurred. The more of these scars a Kawa drinker 

 can show, the higher is his character. Besides pro- 

 ducing unconsciousness, Kawa also induces exceedingly 

 erotic dreams. 



According to the information which the white settlers 

 gave us respecting the method of cultivation of the soil of 

 Puynipet and its climate, it seems that sugar-cane, coffee, cot- 

 ton, rice, tobacco, &c., would be certain to succeed. Sugar- 

 cane is found even now in the wild state ; and to a certain 

 extent it forms an article of food of the natives, who suck the 

 juice. 



The chief of Eoankiddi is a handsome young man of lofty 

 stature, strong frame, of dark brown almost bronze skin, and 

 agreeable, winning expression. With the exception of the 

 usual apron of palm-leaves, and a bright red belt, he was 

 naked, and wore a green circlet on his fine, lustrous black 

 hair, and a piece of sugar-cane in his right hand. His arms 

 and legs were _very neatly tattooed. He seemed quite to 

 understand the use of a red Turkish fez with blue tassel, 

 which we presented to him, and took from his head its 

 own exceedingly picturesque covering. Having been ap- 

 prized of the friendly nature of our visit, he begged us to 



