in the Pacific Ocean. 



95 



are left to dry and cure, to be laid up afterwards for a season 

 of scarcity. In this state many are Ibund to sprout near the 

 stem, and all such are collected together for planting. This is 

 done after the shell is broken, and a greater part of the inside is 

 taken out, which, in their spouting state, consists of a soft spongy 

 substance, with which the inner shell in time becomes filled. 

 This is very sweet and agreeable to the taste, and is much es- 

 teemed by them. After this the shell is buried in the ground* 

 and a small enclosure of stones is made round it to prevent the 

 hogs from rooting it up. This tree bears in about five years 

 after it is planted. The cocoa-nut is said to have been brought 

 from an island called Ootoopoo, by a god named Tao, many ge- 

 nerations since. This island is supposed by them to lie some- 

 where to the windward of La Magdalena, one of the group of 

 Marquesas. While I am on this subject, I must beg leave to 

 mention several islands which are supposed by the natives to exist, 

 and which are entirely unknown to us. So fully are they im- 

 pressed with the belief, that large double canoes have frequently 

 left this and other islands of this group to go in search of them. 

 The grandfather of Gattanewa sailed with four large canoes in 

 search of land, taking with him a large stock of provisions and 

 water, together v/ith a quantity of hogs, poultry, and young 

 plants. He was accompanied by several families, and has never 

 been heard of since he sailed. Temaa Tipee and his whole tribe, 

 about two years since, had many large double canoes constructed 

 for the purpose of abandoning their valley, and proceeding in 

 search of other islands, under the apprehension that they would 

 be driven off their land by other tribes. But peace took place, 

 the canoes were taken to pieces, and are now carefully depo- 

 sited in a house, constructed for the purpose, where they may be 

 kept in a state of preservation to guard against future contin- 

 gencies. 



More than eight hundred men, women, and children, Wilson 

 assures me, have, to his knowledge, left this and the other 

 islands of the Washington and the Marquesas Groups in search 

 of other lands. None have ever been heard of except jn one in- 

 stance. Four canoes sailed from Nooaheeva, or Madison's 

 Island, in search of land to leeward ; they fell in with Roberts' 

 Islands to the N. W. where the natives go annually to collect the 

 tail feathers of the Tropic bird, which there resort. Here one 

 of the canoes remained, the others proceeded on their voyage, 

 running before the wind. After remaining some time on the 

 island, which produces only cocoa-nut and some few other trees, 

 they determined to return to Nooaheeva. One man and one 

 woman remained on the island, and built a hut. The canoe was 



