93 



CHAPTER IV. 



Fruit. 



Fruit is plentiful in Fiji. Bananas, as already 

 mentioned, abound everywhere. Of these musa trog- 

 lodytarum, soaga, is said to be found wild in the 

 woods. I saw it only in plantations, or in land which 

 had been cultivated. As an article of export, to the 

 Australian colonies and New Zealand, bananas deserve 

 to be extensively cultivated. Practically, the market 

 for them is unlimited, and their cultivation, which is 

 not attended with much expense, will be remunera- 

 tive. The same may be said of pine aj>ples, the 

 balawa ni papa lag I (or foreign pandanus) of the 

 Fijians, which thrive remarkably well in Fiji. The 

 soil and climate are in a high degree suitable for their 

 cultivation, and they are produced in perfection. The 

 demand for them in the Australian and New Zealand 

 markets is great; the supply is scanty and unequal 

 to the demand. A few are grown by the Fijians, but 

 the cultivation of them is by no means general 

 throughout the group, — the gardens of the settlers 

 excepted. The cultivation of the pine apple and 

 good bananas, with perhaps oranges, limes, and lemons 

 by the natives, at easy distances from the ports where 

 the colonial steamers call, should be encouraged bv 

 Government, which might take the fruit from the 

 natives as part of their taxes. Two or three varieties 

 of the saddock, moli kana, have extended to all 

 parts of Fiji; so also has the lemon, moli hum 



