404 THE PLANTAIN AND BANANA TREES. 



oiisly with the very dark green colour of the 

 foliage,) containing a bright yellow pulp ; and 

 although in a perfectly wild state, does not con- 

 tain any seeds : its taste, when perfectly ripe, is 

 sweetish, but with a roughness or astringency of 

 flavour, so that they are usually preferred roasted, 

 by which their flavour is evidently very much 

 improved. This species also yields, from the 

 trunk, aquantity of a dark, purplish juice, which 

 I did not find was used by the natives for any 

 purpose, but it may, probably, be applicable as 

 a dye. 



At the Society Islands, the natives dry and 

 press the ripe fruit of tlie Banana, which forms 

 in that state an excellent sweetmeat, and might 

 be probably a profitable export to Sydney, 

 (N. S. Wales,) where it is now occasionally 

 seen when sent as a present to some resident at 

 that town. 



It is related in Cook's First Voyage, whilst in 

 Endeavour River, that a " party returned about 

 noon, with a few palm cabbages, and a bunch 

 or two of wild plantains ; the plantains were 

 the smallest I had ever seen, and the pulp, 

 although it was well-tasted, was full of small 

 stones."* 



Captain King stated to me that he attempted 

 * Vol. i. p. 148. 8vo. Edit. 



