GENERAL ACCOUNT HEDLKY. 63 



do not agree with the constitution of this plant, which never 

 here attains ordinary height and thickness, and the yield was but 

 a few meagre bunches. On the north-eastern islet there is a 

 plantation on red soil and dry ground, and the bananas here 

 grow more vigorously. In the old time but three varieties were 

 known, the "Sai," " Fungiotagnia," and the "Ngiangia." Of 

 later introduction are the " Fouamouarounga," " Butta," " Tama- 

 tamilema, " " Fungipalangi " (lit. white man's banana), and 

 " Fouamoualara." That the natives should plant bananas in the 

 swamp suggests that their acquaintance with brokka preceded 

 their knowledge of bananas. The people of Nukufetau possessed 

 no bananas at the time of the visit of the " Peacock," but they 

 recognised some they saw on board as " futi o rotuma."* 



An avenue of breadfruit (Artocarpus incisus) runs down the 

 length of the village street, whose well grown, leafy and symme- 

 trical trees about forty feet in height add greatly to the beauty 

 of the landscape. A few are also planted on the embankments 

 that separate the fields of brokka, but these are straggling trees 

 with small, scanty foliage, and generally unhealthy in appearance. 

 I was shown by Mr. O'Brien a fruit of another variety introduced 

 from the Gilberts, which he called jackfruit. The leaf I did not 

 see, but I do not think that this Gilbert Island tree was 

 A. integrifolia, or I should have detected its presence on the 

 Island by its familiar leaf. 



A recent addition from Fiji to the stock of cultivated plants is 

 the sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum), which the natives have 

 not yet learned how to grow properly. Instead of planting joints 

 to propagate the species, a whole cane was sacrificed. The sandy 

 soil yields poor, thin rattoons. 



A few trees of Pawpaw (Carica papaya) planted by the 

 Samoan Mission Teacher near his house, presented a healthy 

 appearance. 



FISHING. 



Throughout the coral islands of the Pacific fish abound. So 

 plentiful a food supply do they furnish that these specks of land 

 have been able to support a population paralleled alone in density 

 by the cities of civilisation. The two staples upon which human 

 life in every atoll archipelago depends, and around which cluster 

 their distinctive myths, traditions, customs, manners and habits, 

 are fish and coconut. 



Skilful fishermen as are the Ellice Islanders, they are surpassed 

 by the inhabitants of the Northern Groups, who having less 

 cultivatable land are probably even more dependent upon their 

 dexterity for their livelihood. They employ in fishing, hooks and 

 line, nets, crab-pots, and torch and spear. 



* Wilkes toe. cit., v., p. 45. 



