THE ]M A L A Y RACE. 



61 



Groups ; and at the Union Group, a flabellate Palm and the Gar- 

 denia. It appeared, too, that foreign seeds, accidentally drifted to 

 the shore, were carefully planted by the natives; as was witnessed by 

 Mr. Rich, in the instance of the Hernandia. 



I would note, also, that the Tacca was seen growing on coral, in 

 the Balabac Passage, and again at Zanzibar; but in the Pacific, I have 

 only found it on the high islands, where it is commonly naturalized. 



c. Anaans, or Westei'n Paumotuans. 



After leaving the Disappointment Islands, we directed our course 

 to the southward and westward, and the next island seen, was Taiai'a. 

 We had now learned caution; and in our rambles on shore, we looked 

 with some anxiety for the appearance of natives. Their traces were 

 abundantly evident, in a deserted hut, swarms of flies, the remains of 

 a raft in the lagoon, and bundles of cocoa-nuts ready for transporta- 

 tion; but they were probably at that time absent from the island. 

 An excavation w^as found containing fresh water, the existence of 

 which, on the Coral Islands, seems a remarkable circumstance. The 

 cocoa-nut does not, as some have supposed, afford an adequate substi- 

 tute. The Morinda was first seen at this island. 



On the following morning we reached Raraka, and saw the Tahei- 

 tian flag ; a subject of general congratulation ; and for myself, I may 

 say, that never on any occasion, was an emblem of civilization more 

 welcome. It brought visions of a watery kingdom in this much- 

 avoided region of the globe, that should insure future safety to the 

 mariner. 



It is hardly necessary to add, that we met with a friendly recep- 

 tion from the several families established here, including a native 

 Taheitian missionary. All were now cleanly in their persons, and 

 free from vermin; and we were here first struck with the orderly 

 and respectful behaviour of the Polynesian children. The men had 

 their beards shaven, and were uniformly large and stout, giving evi- 

 dence already of superiority of stature in the Polynesians. Their huts 

 were very clean, and were neatly made; and there were some regular 

 plantations of young cocoa palms. Numbers of young tern (a blackish 

 species with pale spots) were running about the huts in a half-domes- 

 ticated state; a circumstance that was not observed elsewhere. 



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