EDIBLE FRUIT. 311 



often in ravines, and is distinguished from all con- 

 geners by its bunches, instead of hanging down, being 

 perfectly upright, and presenting a dense collection of 

 orange-coloured fruits. The Polynesians, always ready 

 to account for any deviation from a normal type, have 

 not failed to exercise their ingenuity here. The Sa- 

 moans assure us that once upon a time all the bananas 

 and plantains had a great fight, in which the Soaqa 

 (their Fae) came off victorious, and proudly raised its 

 head erect ; whilst the vanquished became so humiliated 

 by the defeat sustained, that they were never able to 

 hold up their heads again. An important addition to 

 their stock the Fijians received in the Vudi ni papalagi 

 (i. e. foreign banana), our Musa Chinensis, which the late 

 John Williams, better known as the Martyr of Ero- 

 manga, brought from the Duke of Devonshire's seat at 

 Chatsworth to the Samoan or Navigator Islands, whence 

 again, in 1848, the Rev. George Pritchard carried it to 

 the Tongan or Friendly Islands, as well as to the Fijis. Its 

 introduction has put an effectual stop to those famines 

 which previously were experienced in some of these is- 

 lands. Never attaining any greater height than six feet, 

 and being of robust growth, it is little affected by the 

 violent winds which cause such damage amongst planta- 

 tions of the taller kinds, and this advantage, coupled 

 with its abundant yield and fine flavour, have induced 

 the natives to propagate it to such an extent that, 

 notwithstanding its comparatively recent introduction, 

 the Vudi ni papalagi numbers amongst the most common 

 bananas of the country. The fruit of the different Musas 

 is variously prepared by the native cooks. Bananas split 



