THE BREAD-FRUIT TREE. 
83 
Africa, and in Nobia, where it is grown almost to the 
exclusion of every otUer esculent plant. Tlioiigli tlie 
seeds are by much the smallest of any of tho cereal plants, 
the number home upon each stalk is so great as to connter- 
balance this disadvantage, autl to render the cultivation 
of millet as productive as that of any other grain. 
The bread-froit tree is the gi'eat gift of Providence to 
the fairest isles of Polynesia. No fruit or forest tree in the 
north of Europe, with the exception of the oak or linrleu, 
is its equal in regularity of growth and comeliness of 
shape ; it far surpasses the wild chestnut, which somewhat 
resembles it io appearance. Its large oblong leaves are 
deeply lobed like those of the fig-tree, which they resemble 
not only iu colour and consistence, but also in exuding a 
milk}' juice when broken. About the time when the sun, 
advancing towards the Tropic of Capricorn, announces to 
the Tahitians that summer is approaching, it begins to 
produce new leaves and young fruits, which commence 
ripening in October, and may be plucked about eight 
months long in luxuriant succession. The fruit is about 
the size and shape of a new-born infant's head, with a thin 
skin, and a core about as big as the handle of a small 
knife. Tlie edible part, which lies between the skin and 
the core, and is as white as snow, most be roasted before 
it is eaten ; its taste is insipid, with a slight sweetness, 
somewhat resembling tliat of tbe crumb of wheaten bread 
mixed with boiled potatoes. When the season draws to 
an end, the last fruits are laid in heaps, and closely covered 
with leaves. In this state they undergo a fermentation and 
become disagreeably sweet : tlie core is then taken out 
entire, which is done by gently pulling out the stalk, and 
the rest of the fruit is tbrown into a hole, where it under- 
goes a second fermentation, and becomes sour, after which 
it will suffer no change for many months. It is taken out 
of the hole as it is wanted for use, and, being made into 
balls, it is \\Tapped up in leaves and baked. 
To procm-e this principal article of their food costs the 
