RADACK AND OTHER ISLANDS. 155 



to work their wood, except the valuuble metal 

 obtained in tliis manner ; and when we would 

 not credit the assertion of our friends in this re- 

 spect, we found ourselves such a piece of wood, with 

 nails remaining ill it on the shore, under the lee 

 of one of the islands of the group of Otdia. They 

 receive, in a similar manner, another treasure, hard 

 stones fit for whettinn;. Thev are sought for in 

 the roots and hollows of the trees which the sea 

 throws up : iron and stones belong to the chiefs, 

 to whom they must be delivered, on payment of a 

 reward ; punishment being inflicted, in case of 

 concealment. 



The sea brings to these islands the seeds and 

 fruits of many trees, most of which have not yet 

 grown there. The greater part of these seeds ap- 

 pear to have not yet lost the capability of growing, 

 and we have frequently entrusted to the bosom of 

 the earth the present intended for it. We have 

 collected them, and found among them, fruits of 

 pandanus species, which are only met with in the 

 larger countries lying to the west, those of Bar- 

 ingtonia speciostty the Aleurites triloba^ and other 

 trees belonging to the general Flora of Polynesia, 

 and which we afterwards saw in the west, on the 

 Mariana islands. The greatest part of these seeds 

 belong to the arborescent or creeping siliquose 

 plants, which are found every where in abundance 

 between the tropics. The seeds of the Guilandina 

 honduc are frequently found among them ; and 



