28 POPULATION. NATURAL PRODUCTIONS. 



more respected by natives and foreigners than 

 Mr. Barff; and there are also but few, who, 

 from the even tenour of their course in active 

 and useful benevolence, have better deserved 

 that tribute. He has resided for more than 

 twenty years amongst these islands ; has been 

 indefatigable in labouring for the cause he 

 advocates ; and though himself little prone to 

 display, his patient and intelligent researches 

 have proved a valuable fund to his many more 

 literary colleagues. 



The population of Huahine amounts to about 

 2000 persons, of which the greatest proportion 

 resides at Huahine nue, and chiefly at Fare, or 

 the adjacent districts. The supreme authority 

 of the government is vested in the person of the 

 royal chief ess Ariipaea, sister to Tamatoa. king 

 of Raiatea. 



Oxen, ducks, and pigeons are the most use- 

 ful exotic animals introduced to this island. 

 Amongst the indigenous fruit-trees, the moun- 

 tain-plantain (fei) obtains on the elevated 

 lands, but is so scarce that its fruit is eaten 

 only by the chiefs. In the garden attached to 

 the missionary's house at Fare, we noticed a 

 plantation of tall and vigorous coffee -shrubs, 

 at this season covered with a profusion of ripe 

 and scarlet fruit. Mr. Barff kindly presented 



