OF LA PKROUSE. 



175 



During eight months in the year the bread- 

 fruit tree produces fruits, which, ripening in 

 fucceflion, thus daily furnifh the iflanders with 

 a food equally wholefome and abundant. I 

 fliall not here defcribe it, becaufe a defcription 

 of it has already been publifhed by able botanifts. 

 The abortion of the feeds doubtlefs arifes 

 from the cuftom which the natives have of pro- 

 pagating it by fuckers ; and in this refped: it 

 differs particularly from the wild fpecies, the 

 fruits of which are much fmaller, fewer in num- 

 ber, and filled with large kernels, which are ra- 

 ther difficult to digeft. 



The natives brought us a few pieces of fanda! 

 wood, and, to render its fmell ftronger, they 

 took care to rub it hard with a file made of 

 fhark's fkin, which may be feen in Plate XXXIL 

 Fig, 24. They told us that they got it from 

 Fidgi J accordingly they call it Hai-Fidgr. They 

 informed us that they had tried repeatedly, but 

 always in vain, to convey fome plants of it lo 

 their ifland. 



The canoes which furrounded our fhips re- 

 turned on the approach of night to the neareft 

 coafl, as was generally the cafe; and our failors 

 always diverted themfelves exceedingly, v.hen 

 the young girls who had contrived to fleal into 

 the betwecn-decks, gave them notice of their 

 departure, calling out to them in a loud voice^ 



