346 BOTANY. 



the Marquesans only to aristocratic purposes, as co- 

 verings for the huts or burial places of their chiefs ; al- 

 though they do not refuse to sell them to European 

 sailors, who value them, under the name of " brab," 

 for the manufacture of hats. The kernel of the nuts 

 is eaten as a native delicacy. 



At Timor, where this palm grows in great abundance, 

 the Malays extract from it a large quantity of sap or 

 toddy, whence it obtains from Europeans the some- 

 what indefinite name of toddy-tree. From the sac- 

 charine fluid thus procured, they prepare a dark syrup, 

 called ffulahy which they use as sugar, and with which 

 they often adulterate their wild honey ; with the dried 

 leaves they construct A:ns-sheaths, baskets that will 

 hold water, and ornamental cases for their betel- leaf and 

 areka-nut. 



Bromelia ananas. Pine Apple. This exotic plant 

 has been introduced to many Polynesian islands, where 

 it grows plentifully, and in a half- wild state ; but, like 

 all the indigenous and neglected examples of the same 

 species, so commonly met with in the East Indies, and 

 often growing in extensive fields, the fruit is very in- 

 ferior to the pine-apples of England ; which, on ac- 

 count of their rarity and consequent value, are inva- 

 riably well-selected and carefully cultivated by our gar- 

 deners. 



The Society Islanders are very partial to the odour 

 and taste of the pine- apple. They call the plant fara- 

 papa, or u white-man's Pandanus," from a striking re- 

 semblance that exists between its foliage and mature 

 fruit, and those of the indigenous Pandanus-tree. 



