THE MALAY RACE 



79 



The geographical position and chilly climate, unsuited to Tropical 

 plants, deprived of course the first Polynesian emigrants, of their 

 accustomed agricultural resources. Forced, therefore, to live on the 

 spontaneous products of the new country, (and principally on fern- 

 root and fish), it might be supposed, that their descendants would 

 have relapsed into a ruder condition. We do not, however, find 

 them at all behind the other Polynesians, in arts, knowledge, or 

 acquirements. 



But to go into some seeming exceptions: a few Polynesian plants 

 have actually proved hardy enough to withstand the New Zealand cli- 

 mate; and Cook found here "coccos or eddas, sweet-potatoes, and some 

 gourds." Of the first named plant, or the taro, I sometimes observed 

 a few stocks near the native houses ; but it is of no importance as an 

 esculent, since the root does not arrive at perfection. I observed also 

 the gourd (Lagenaria) ; but I do not remember to have anywhere 

 seen its fruit eaten by Polynesians. The batatas, or sweet-potato, is 

 really of importance as an esculent, at least in the northern districts ; 

 although its cultivation appears to have been notwithstanding limited. 

 Its presence, however, was not coeval with the first settlement of 

 New Zealand, but the natives have preserved a distinct account of its 

 introduction. The traditionary " canoe formed of separate pieces," 

 describes precisely the model used at Samoa : and further confirma- 

 tion of a Samoan source, was offered by the small finger-like variety 

 of this root, which we met with only at the two places; while yet 

 another concurrent tradition, made this " the only kind formerly 

 known in New Zealand." 



A fourth esculent, the 'Cape gooseberry' (Physalis edulis), may 

 perhaps be added ; as it had every appearance of being of aboriginal 

 introduction. It is, however, only a weed, abundantly naturalized 

 in waste places; and so it is in the other Polynesian islands, where 

 I have never seen it regularly cultivated. On now comparing the 

 whole list of Polynesian useful plants, it will perhaps be found, that 

 these four alone are capable of enduring the New Zealand climate. 



The aboriginal absence, of the domestic animals of the Tropical 

 Polynesians (the pig, the dog, and the domestic fowl), seems more 

 difficult of explanation. It is true, in regard to swine, there appears 

 to be a dearth of sustenance : even at the present day, they have 

 not run wild, as at Taheiti ; but they continue the inseparable com- 

 panions of the New Zealand household, and are called to partake of 

 the family meals. I am not sure that the dog was altogether un- 

 known to the aboriginal New Zealanders. 



