TO RADACK." 75 



remaining part with water-melons, melons, maize, 

 beans, peas, lemons, and yams. Lagediack soon 

 perceived that all was good for eating, and the 

 manner of preparing it had still to be explained 

 to him. Having a baked yam-root still by me, I 

 distributed it; and they found its taste so 

 pleasant, that it very much increased their interest 

 in the garden. We likewise distributed a number 

 of seeds, which they might sow at pleasure. Mr. 

 Von Chamisso was indefatigable here, as well as 

 on all the other islands at which we touched, in 

 sowing various kinds of seeds, and I am convinced 

 that his labour will not have been fruitless. After 

 having concluded our work, we returned to the 

 ship with the consciousness of having done a useful 

 act, and our trifling labour was rewarded by the 

 gratitude of the islanders, who became more and 

 more attached to us. The food of the islanders 

 of this group consists, at this season of the year, 

 solely of pandanus fruit ; and they consider cocoa- 

 nuts, which are here very scarce, as dainties. But 

 as the pandanus contains very little nourishment, 

 and is by no means in abundance, an idea of their 

 frugal fare may easily be formed, which seems to 

 agree with them, for they enjoy extraordinary 

 health, and attain to an advanced and cheerful old 

 age. A threefold increase of the population must 

 produce a famine, which we may hope that 

 our seeds will be the means of preventing. It is 

 remarkable, that they almost totally neglect fish- 



