CHAPTER V. 



CULTIVATION — FOOD, ETC. 



THE inhabitants of the islands of BougainviJle Straits display far 

 more interest in the cultivation of the soil than do those of St. 

 Christoval and its adjacent islands. Whether this circumstance may 

 be attributed to the greater powers wielded by the chiefs of these 

 islands, and to the consequent tranquillit}'' which their peoples enjoy, 

 or whether it is due to the comparatively isolated position of these 

 islands of the Straits which has secured to their inhabitants a free- 

 dom from the attacks of neighbouring tribes, I can scarcely distin- 

 guish. It is, however, probable that the explanation of the extensive 

 cultivated tracts with the consequent abundance of food in the one 

 region, and of the meagre patches of cultivation with the resulting 

 dearth of food in the other, lies more in the surroundings than in the 

 individual character of the fiatives. 



In the island of Treasury acres and acres of taro and banana 

 plantations lie in the immediate vicinity of the village; and I passed 

 through similarly cultivated tracts in the east and west districts ot 

 the island. The wide and level recjion, which constitutes the marmn 

 of the island, is covered with a deep productive soil. Cultivation is 

 not confined, however, to the more level districts. Large cultivated 

 patches lie on the hill-slopes behind the village ; and in other places 

 fire and the axe are constantly employed in the preliminary work 

 of clearing the hill-side. The islands of the Shortlands exhibit a 

 corresponding degree of industry on the part of their inhabitants. 

 When crossing the eastern part of the island of Morgusaia, I ti-aversed 

 for nearly a mile one continuous tract of cultivation. In the midst 

 of the taro and banana plantations stood groves of the stately sago 

 palm and clumps of the betel-nut palm. An occasional bread-fruit 

 tree towered over all ; and now and then a lime tree was pointed 

 out by my guides. This extensive tract belonged to the chief. 



