370 BOTANY. 



indefinite time without loathing; for its pleasant in- 

 sipidity does not excite, and cannot therefore offend, 

 the palate. The ripe fruit, when similarly cooked, has 

 a very sweet taste, and on that account, perhaps, is not 

 much admired as a common food, either by Polynesians 

 or Europeans. 



The bread-fruit is almost the only vegetable used by 

 the Society Islanders to prepare a wash for the distilla- 

 tion of their modern ardent spirit, or ava, resembling a 

 strong whisky ; the inner bark of the branches is the 

 most common material used for the manufacture of the 

 native-cloth or tapa; and a viscid fluid obtained by 

 tapping the trunk, is now employed as a substitute for 

 pitch, in calking the sides of small vessels built at 

 these islands. The timber it affords is applicable to 

 many useful purposes ; when carefully selected from 

 the heart of a good tree, and kept well oiled and 

 polished, it assumes a sombre-brown colour, and sup- 

 plies a neat and durable wainscotting. It is sometimes 

 used for making canoes ; and in the opinion of Euro- 

 pean navigators in these seas, is particularly eligible 

 for the bottoms of vessels trading between the tropics ; 

 since they believe that it has a power of escaping the 

 attacks of the " worm/' or ship-borer, (Teredo,) in a very 

 remarkable degree. 



Pitcairn Island (RARE). Society Isles ; native name 

 maiore. Marquesas, mei. Sandwich group (RARE), uru. 

 Island of Timor, Indian Archipelago (RARE). 



A. integrifolia. Jack or Jaca Tree. This species 

 ranks among the timber-trees of the Society Isles, and 

 is usually selected for making the keels of vessels. The 

 leaves are broad and entire ; the fruit is globular, and 

 when young, has a purple-red colour ; it is edible, but 



