FEEJEE GROUP. 335 
Shaddocks were in great abundance. Both the red and white kinds 
are indigenous. 
The same bitter orange was found here as at the Samoan Group. 
The natives of Feejee call it moli-tiri The trees grow to the height 
of forty feet. They give the name of moli ni papalangi, or the white 
man’s orange, to the lemon and sweet orange. They were both intro- 
duced by Mr. Vanderford, (from Tahiti,) about the year 1823. 
Several new native fruits were seen. One of these, called taravou, 
is about the size of a plum. It grows on a large tree, and has a bitter 
and acrid taste: the natives are very fond of it. 
The indava is also much esteemed, both by the natives and whites. 
The fruit is about the size and shape of a hen’s egg, with the exception 
of being flattened at both ends: it has a glutinous, honey-like taste, has 
a kernel, and grows on a tree about fifty feet high. 
The Malay apple, called kabita, was also found here, though it does 
not appear to be as plentiful as at Tahiti and the Samoan Group. 
They have also several other fruits, which are only used in times of 
scarcity, and when hard pressed by famine. 
The new species of tomato, (Solanum,) of which mention has already 
been made, may be almost classed with the fruits; it is cultivated hy 
the natives on account of its fruit, which is round, smooth, and about 
the size of a large peach; when ripe, its colour is yellow; its taste was 
by some thought to have a strawberry flavour. We have made every 
endeavour to introduce the plant into the United States, by sending 
home seeds, some few of which have fallen into good hands, and been 
taken care of; but I regretted to find the greatest part had been dis- 
tributed to those who had not taken any care in its cultivation. Fruit 
from these seeds has, however, been produced in Philadelphia. The 
plant will, no doubt succeed in the southern section of the Union. It 
is supposed to be biennial. There were also two smaller varieties of 
the same species, which the natives eat, and which are about the size 
of a small egg. 
Mr. Brackenridge also found a nutmeg (Myristica) on the heights 
of Ovolau. The fruit of this, when green, is about the size of a 
pigeon’s egg, with a round kernel and a large quantity of mace 
around it. He describes the kernel as having a greasy taste, and 
little of that aromatic flavour distinctive of the nutmeg known to us. 
From a wound in the bark of the tree issued a red acrid juice. We 
did not learn that the natives make any use of this plant. 
Pumpkins, cucumbers, Cape gooseberry, guava, pine-apples, water- 
melons, and large red capsicums, are in abundance. 
The chief proportion, however, of the food of the natives is derived 
