126 THE CORAL LANDS OF THE PACIFIC. 



Pandanus utilis for making bags (the Vacoa of Mauritius), and 

 mango, in addition to the following articles which have been 

 up to the present time the leading items of produce brought in 

 by them : these are copra (or the dried kernel of the cocoa-nut), 

 cotton, candle-nuts, tobacco, and maize ; while beche-de-mer, a 

 sea-slug, and a delicacy much appreciated by the Chinese, is 

 also accepted. 



The produce thus paid by the natives is put up to public 

 tender, and the highest is accepted in each article, and to the 

 successful tenderer all the produce delivered or collected in 

 discharge of the tax is transferred on its receipt by the 

 Government. The modus operandi of the system is thus 

 described by Sir Arthur Gordon : 



' The amount of the assessment fixed, and the prices offered 

 for various articles of produce by the successful tenderer or 

 tenderers, are intimated to the Eoko Tui or native governor of 

 each province. 



'The apportionment of the shares to be borne by each 

 district in the province, and the selection of the article or 

 articles of produce to be contributed, are then made, nominally 

 and according to law, by a board appointed under the Ordinance, 

 but practically by the Bose vaka, Yasana,, or provincial council, 

 which, as I have previously explained, consists of chiefs of 

 districts, styled " bulls," under the presidency of the Roko Tui, 

 frequently, though not always, aided by the presence of the 

 Governor's commissioner. 



' The next stage is the apportionment of the tax of each 

 district by the Bose ni Tikina, or district council, consisting of 

 the town chiefs of the district, under the presidency of the 

 bull By this body the share of each several township in the 

 district is determined. 



' Lastly, the individual share of produce to be contributed 



