THE CHIRIMOYER 179 



As there is a mountain-rice which thrives without artificial 

 irrigation, there is also a mountain -tar o {Galadiuin cristatum), 

 which resembles the former in general appearance, but prefers 

 ;i more dry and elevated soil. Although the plant grows wild 

 l)oth in the Society and Marquesas Islands, yet Pitcairn was the 

 only spot where Mr. Bennett saw it cultivated. 



The possession of the esculent Caladium, which furnishes so 

 much food with so little labour, can hardly be considered as a 

 l)enefit for the Sandwich Islanders, whose natural indolence is 

 too much encouraged by the abundance it creates. The 

 Hawaiian constantly sees before his eyes the coffee-groves 

 and sugar-plantations, the cotton and indigo fields, which, 

 cultivated by Chinese coolies, amply reward the enterprise of 

 tlie European and American settlers in his native land, and 

 yet he saunters by, too indolent even to stretch out his hand 

 and gather the berries from the trees. 



It may easily be imagined that the tropical sun, which distils 

 so many costly juices and fiery spices in indescribable multi- 

 plicity and abundance, must also produce a variety of fruits. 

 15ut man has as yet done but little to improve by care and 

 art these gifts of Nature, and, with rare exceptions, the de- 

 licious fiavom* for which our native fruits are indebted to 

 centuries of cultivation, is found wanting in those of the 

 torrid zone. Even the pine-apple acquires in our hot-houses 

 a size and perfection which it does not attain in its original 

 liome, and shows us how much it might be improved in its 

 native seats, if cultivated with the same industry and know- 

 ledge. In our gardens Pomona appears in the refined garb of 

 civilisation, while in the tropics she still shows herself as a 

 savage beauty, requiring the aid of culture for the full develope- 

 ment of her attractions. 



Yet there are exceptions to the rule, and among others the 

 Peruvian Chirimoya {Aiiona tripetala) is vaunted by travellers 

 in such terms of admiration that it can hardly be inferior to, 

 and probably surpasses, the most exquisite fruits of European 

 growth. Hanke calls it in one of his letters a masterpiece of 

 nature, and Tschudi says that its taste is quite incomparable. 

 It grows to perfection at Huanuco, where it attains a weight of 



N 2 



