SUGAR CANE AND TOBACCO. 187 



and a blue and yellow bird, that flew like a parrot. 

 Curlews, godwits, and plover were plentiful on some 

 parts of the beach, and may sometimes be seen on 

 the hills where the curlews occasionally perch on the 

 trees. 



Some of the natives to-day were sucking pieces 

 of a dark brown, rather coarse, sugar-cane, and w r e 

 saw some of their tobacco, of a light brown colour, 

 twisted into a plait. I nowhere saw either of these 

 plants growing, so that probably they keep their 

 plantations in small secret spots in the woods. 

 Whence could these people derive the habit and 

 their very peculiar method of smoking ? European 

 vessels passing through the strait might have given 

 them manufactured or dry tobacco, but they could 

 not have given them the plant or taught them how 

 to cultivate it. In smoking their own tobacco, they 

 break off a piece from the plait into which the leaves 

 are twisted, and wrap it in a green leaf to prevent 

 its setting fire to the wooden bowl. A woman is 

 then deputed to fill the bamboo with smoke, as 

 before described, and on its being passed round, 

 each person takes a long draught of smoke, which 

 he swallows, apparently with considerable effort, and 

 stands motionless a few seconds, as if convulsed, 

 with the tears in his eyes ; he then respires deeply, 

 and seems to recover. They call it "eree oora" (to 

 drink heat or fire), and, patting their stomachs, 

 seem much comforted after it. I tried their tobacco, 

 but found it intolerably hot and strong. They could 



