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Eugenia malaccensis (Malay apple), the kav'tka of 

 the Fijians, is another indigenous fruit. There are 

 several varieties of it, but those most esteemed are 

 the white and the red fruit bearing kinds. It is a fine 

 symmetrical growing tree, frequently attaining a 

 height of tO feet, and its dark green foliage contrasts 

 beautifully with the bright red colour of its large 

 flowers and fruit. The fruit is borne on the branches 

 in clusters of three or more together. It has a 

 flavourless watery taste to a European, but is much 

 relished by the natives, who besides eating the fruit, 

 use it as an ingredient in their madrai, and the 

 flowers as an ornament for their hair. 



The wi (sponias dulcis) also abounds in many 

 parts, and is most common about the native towns. 

 It is a sparsely and horizontally branched, deci- 

 duous tree, frequently growing to a height of 70 

 feet. The fruit, which is much relished both by 

 the natives and Europeans, is of a yellow colour when 

 ripe, very juicy, and has a pleasant sub-acid flavour. 

 It is about 8 or 9 inches in circumference, and some- 

 times weighs nearly a pound when well grown, but it 

 is full of wiry fibres that make it disagreeable to 

 persons who have tender gums. The settlers make it 

 into tarts, and also eat it in its natural state. The 

 tree is more common, grows better, and its fruits have 

 a finer flavour on the coast than on the elevated land 

 and wei climate of the mountains. 



The tarawau ( dracontomelon sylvestre) is another 

 Fijian frail bearing tree. It grows to a height of 

 10 feet, and has a wide spreading head of branches 

 with bright green pinnated leaves. The fruit is 

 Bucculenl and juicy, lint the taste is flat and want- 

 in- in flavour. It is relished only by the natives. 



