105 



tubers. At this stage the tubers are iu proper condi- 

 tion for digging, and the decayed leaf stalks point out 

 their exact position to the diggers. 



Turmeric (curcuma longa), the cago of the Eijians, 

 abounds in all the islands. Like the yabia, it is her- 

 baceous, and the rhizomes are fit for digging when 

 the leaves have died. When prepared, it is called 

 rerega, and is used for cosmetic purposes, dyeing 

 garments, &c. 



Cassava (jatropha manihot), is cultivated by some of 

 the settlers for making tapioca, but there has not yet 

 been much of it made. The " plant ,J for grating the 

 roots and granulating the tapioca, is but recently set up. 



Arrowroot of very fine quality is made in one of 

 the islands, from maranta arundinacea, and a species 

 of canna which has recently been introduced. Both 

 plants thrive remarkably well, but the largest yield of 

 fecula is obtained from the canna. A considerable 

 area of land on the island of Koro has been planted 

 with these, and machinery for the manufacture of 

 arrowroot has been erected there by an enterprising 

 gentleman. Steam power is used for grating the 

 rhizomes or roots, and the fecula is dried by heated 

 air. The estimated yield per acre is said to be about 

 1,300 lbs. The arrowroot is sent to England, 

 Australia, and New Zealand. It is cleanly made, 

 pure, and its quality is not inferior to that made in 

 any country. Some persons think that the quality of 

 white arrowroot is inferior to that which has a 

 slight brown or yellowish tinge. This is a mistake. 

 Arrowroot when pure is white ; when coloured in the 

 slightest degree, it has not been perfectly cleaned. 

 As the quality of white sugar is superior from its 

 cleanness to brown, so the quality of white arrowroot 



