THE KINGSMILL ISLANDERS. 85 



away, which is, that in all cases where the island is at all exposed, it 

 has become a string of detached islets, a form it would be most likely 

 first to assume in undergoing such a change. Those containing 

 passages through the reef have been already pointed out ; and in the 

 Hydrographical Memoir, full directions for entering the lagoons will 

 be found. 



Their soil, which is but a few inches in depth, is of coral sand and 

 vegetable mould, below which coral sand continues to be found, and 

 to this depth the wells and taro-patches extend. The rain-water 

 percolates thus far, and meets the coral rock. Besides this rock, 

 small pieces of pumice are found, which are supposed to have drifted 

 to the island. Of these great use is made, in cultivation, as a 

 manure. 



Their cultivation consists for the most part in that of cocoa-nut and 

 pandanus, which are their chief articles of food. They also culti- 

 vate with great care a species of the taro (Arum cordifolium), which 

 is called by the natives "poipoi," and is said to grow to a very large 

 size ; but all that was seen by the officers was small, and apparently 

 withered. 



Bread-fruit trees are to be found on the northern islands, but 

 the tree was not seen on the southern. They pay more attention 

 to the rearing of trees than in any other islands of Polynesia, for the 

 cocoa-nut trees are fenced round, and pounded pumice is mixed with 

 the soil near their roots. This stone is collected by the women, who 

 are frequently to be seen in numbers on the beaches, after westerly 

 winds, picking it up in small baskets. 



There is likewise a purslane, which is abundant, and according 

 to Kirby, is eaten in cases of scarcity or famine. The excava- 

 tions for the planting of taro are of various sizes, generally one hun- 

 dred feet in length, by fifty in breadth. On Makin or Pitt's Island, 

 it is said, there is a trench about ten feet wide, and not less than 

 seven miles long, dug around the lagoon, from which it is separated 

 by an embankment. The water in this trench is but slightly 

 brackish, and sufficiently fresh to nurture the taro. The natives 

 are remarkably careful to keep this plant free from weeds, or any 

 thing that may affect its growth ; and they are in the habit of loosen- 

 ing the root, with this view. There is no particular season when it 

 comes to maturity, neither do they observe any particular time for 

 planting it. On Makin, they have a kind of fruit resembling the 

 gooseberry, called by the natives " teiparu ;" this they pound, after 



vol. v. 22 



