414' VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES. 



grows harsh and choky, but it is very pleasant before 

 it is too stale. This fruit lasts in season eight months 

 in the year, during which the natives eat no other sort 

 of bread kind. I did never see of this fruit any 

 where but here. The natives told us, that there is 

 plenty of this fruit growing on the rest of the 

 JLadrone Islands; and I did never hear of it any- 

 where else." 



The scientific men who accompanied Captain Cook 

 in his voyages, came home with the most enthusiastic 

 ideas of the bread-fruit. Dr. Solander calls it " the 

 most useful vegetabtle in the world," and urges that 

 no expense should be spared in its cultivation. The 

 mere idea of bread, the most valuable food of man, 

 growing spontaneously, was doubtless calculated to 

 excite attention almost, perhaps, as strongly as the 

 subsequent description of the poet: 



" The bread-tree, which, without the ploughshare, yields 

 The unreap'd harvest of unfurrow'd fields, 

 And bakes its unadulterated loaves 

 Without a furnace in unpurchased groves, 

 And flings off famine from its fertile breast, 

 A priceless market for the gathering guest."* 



A tree, of the value and easy culture of which so 

 very encouraging accounts were given, could not but 

 attract the notice of the public generally, and more 

 especially of those colonists of Great Britain who 

 lived in a climate warm enough for its cultivation. 

 An application to be furnished with plants of the 

 bread-fruit tree was accordingly made to his late 

 Majesty by the planters and others interested in the 

 West Indies, and it met with a favourable reception. 

 The Bounty, a vessel of about two hundred and fif- 

 teen tons burthen, was fitted up for a voyage to 

 Otaheite. Lieutenant (afterwards Admiral) Bligh, 

 who had accompanied Cook on his last voyage, and 

 shewn himself an officer of great talents, enterprise, 



* Byron. 



