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 
(2. 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 
