" Therti is HO neces:>itv to I'd't'i', as W illdctiow 

 dosfs, tJje origin of all the eultivalied varieties, 

 liisd <>f ail the^|>«cfe« »)3Ltix^^ Ijy Ijot^isls, 



to the M/(Sf( fnHjhnhftatwm^. mtive of the Mo- 

 \\\vvM I-laiids, as the parent stock. Our speri- 

 iiH'Us accorded witli tlie descriptions given of 

 Musa sapivntum. The seeds were iu all respects 

 perfect,, aM si|^pfin?eatly capable of propagatfiig 

 theplast. Indeed, Jta existence on these islands, 

 iso rai'eh' fre(piented by man. and rdtoj^'ether un- 

 fit for I'ultiviition, can he aceoiuited tor on no 

 Other ]*rinciplo than the fertility of the seeds. * 

 It is, Il^^ver,- ctiifious (antl ix^ethsr it de- 

 p^^S fertility of the soil, I will leave for 



the decision of others) that the Fehij or Wild 

 Plantain fnr, {3fffsa Fchl,) which is found 

 growing so luxuriantly about the declivities 

 of the womisins^ Im m in iU tiuit, 



the romantic ^ alleys of the beautiful island of Ta- 

 hiti,* (anil also oilu-rs of the Polynesian Islands,) 

 propagating themselves by suckers : so dense 

 at placed bitve.I:#eea them, that tliey ap- 

 f^v almost united; into one naass* Tfe fijuit 

 ju'oduced from this species is large, full, of a 

 dark orange eolonr, (whielt contrasts haimoni- 



* Fmlaysmi'* Jonnnal of a Migsioii io Sjaiii,&c, p)!. 87. 



JJ D 2 



