404 THE l*tAKTAlN ANB BA?*ANA ttlEES. 



ouslj witli the very dark gi'ccn rolnur ot" tlie 

 foUagej) containing a bright yellow ])ulp ; and 

 although in a perfectly mid stdle^ does net <ion- 

 liftia aijy seeds ; its taste, whett perfectly ripe, is 

 sweetislij ))iit \\\th a roughness or astriDp,*ency of 

 flavour, so tlitit tliey are usually preferred roasted, 

 by which tlicir flavour is evidently veiy much 

 improved. This spe^ also yiehfej irmi tjie 

 trunk, a quantity of a dark^ purplish juice, wlrffell 

 I did not find ^vas used by the natives for any 

 purpose, but it may, probablyj be applicable as 

 a dye. 



At 1^ Society IslandSj^ die mttw djy luad 



in that state an excellent sweetmeat, and niiglit 

 be probably a profitable export tn Sydney, 

 (N* S. Wales,} where it is now occasionally 

 seea i^^ts as a present to itjitte resident at 

 that towji. 



It is related in Cook's First Voyage, whilst in 

 Endeavour River, tliat a party returned altout 

 noon, with a few palm eabbagt-s, and a ljunch 

 or two of wild plantains ; the plantains were 

 the gm^Uest I hsA ^ pulp, 



^tihougli it was well^tasted, was full of ^mnll 

 stones.''* 



Captain King- statid to nie that he attempted 



* Vol. i. p. 148. 8vo. Kilit. 



