PORTER^S JOURNAL. 



151 



the natives are very fond of it. It contains a hard round 

 stone in the centre, and 1 could never learn whether it grew 

 on a tree or a vine. 



The fruit, formerly mentioned as resembling a walnut, 

 and producing much oil. It appears they were eaten by the 

 Spaniards, and by Captain Marchand's crew at St. Chris- 

 tiana, and were found to be of an excellent flavour. But 

 although they were much relished, they were found to be 

 a pernicious fruit, occasioning all those who had eaten of 

 them, violent retchings, or violent colics, followed by 

 strong purging. It is stated that the natives ate of them 

 without experiencing any of these effects. At Nooahee- 

 vah they are never used but for the purpose of ripening 

 bananas, agreeably to the method formerly mentioned, 

 (they possessing a heating quality) except when baked and 

 used as candles. They give a brilliant light, but require 

 a person to attend them constantly, as one will not burn 

 more than two minutes. 



Pine-apples of an inferior quality, for the want of proper 

 cultivation, and the castor-oil bean are to be found on the 

 island. The first is confined to a few tabbooed spots in 

 the valley of Tieuhoy, the latter grows in the most 

 flourishing manner, and in the greatest abundance. These 

 two plants were introduced, as Wilson informed me, by an 

 English missionary, who, about five or six years ago, re- 

 mained a short time here with a view of converting the 

 natives to Christianity. I could not learn that he had any 

 success in his undertaking ; if, however, he had while he 

 remained, all traces of it were completely worn off when 

 I arrived. It seems he first endeavoured to convert Gat- 

 tanewa's wife, as being the most inteUigent woman on the 

 island. She appeared to have a perfect recollection of 

 some conversations he had with her on religion, through 

 the medium of Wilson, and among other things, related to 

 me, that he had informed her that our God was the only 

 God that every one should worship, that he made the 

 island of Nooaheevah, and had sent down his Son to let us 

 know that he was the true and only God. He ridiculed 

 their gods as blocks, and stones, and rags, which, said 

 Taiea-taiaa was not right, for we did not ridicule his God, 

 vtrho, if he wished us to be convinced that we slK)uld wor- 

 ship only him, would also send his Son to instruct us. We 



