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yaloka ni gata (solarium nigrum, var. oleraceum), 

 is also used by the Fijians, but not much by the 

 settlers. It generally grows on cultivated lands. 

 The bete or van van ni viti (hibiscus manihot), is 

 much used and extensively cultivated in several 

 districts by the natives. It has a taste not unlike 

 spinach. 



At Kabi, the leaves of a plant belonging to Phy- 

 tolaccaccae were cooked and served as a vegetable 

 daily at dinner. They are superior to the bete, and 

 equal to spinach. Indeed, some consider them 

 superior to it. Taukuku ni vuaka (portulaca ole- 

 racea), a weed growing on all waste land, is also 

 much used by the natives. The young undeveloped 

 flowers of the ^vaulo (flagellaria indica), a grami- 

 neous climber common in all forests throughout the 

 colony, are also in great request during their season. 

 Another gramina, the drau&a t a plant somewhat 

 resembling the sugar cane, is cultivated largely in 

 some parts of Piji. As a vegetable it is much re- 

 lished by the Pijians all over the group. The un- 

 expanded panicle of young flowers is the part eaten. 

 If taken when young and tender, properly cooked, 

 and served with butter as sauce, it is reckoned, by 

 some, not inferior to asparagus. I regret that my 

 specimens of this plant were not in fit condition to be 

 named. They were not sufficiently advanced, and 

 from the demand for the flowering shoots, specimens 

 in full flower could not be obtained. To obtain these 

 in Eiji, a tabu or prohibition to touch, would re- 

 quire to be put on a few plants. Besides the above 

 plants, the young leaves of several kinds of ferns are 

 used as pot vegetables. These are litobrochia incisa, 

 alsophila excelsa, or bala-bala, in times of scar- 



