porter's journal. 



51 



then hung together in bunches to a cocoa-nut tree, situa- 

 ted near their dwelHng, at a sufficient height from the 

 ground to place them in perfect security. Here they are 

 left to dry and cure, to be laid up afterwards for a sea- 

 son of scarcity. In this state many are found 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 

 sprouting state, consists chiefly 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 generations since. This island 

 is supposed by them to lie somewhere to the windw^ard 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 

 impressed 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 with a 

 quantity of hogs, poultry, and young plants. He was ac- 

 companied 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 con- 

 structed for the purpose of abandoning their valley, and 

 proceeding in search of other islands, under the appre- 

 hension that they would be driven olf their land by other 

 tribes. But peace took place, the canoes were taken to 

 pieces, and are now carefully deposited in a house, con- 

 structed for the purpose, where they may be kept in a 

 state of preservation to guard against future contingen- 

 cies. 



^ 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 Marquesas Groups, 



