Jan., 1926 
The Queensland Naturalist. 
57 
in" on tlie attneks of the borer. Maguey (Agave can- 
tula) and roselle (Hibiscus sabdarilfa) are also fibre 
plants raised extensively in the islands, but do not ap- 
proach Manila hemp in importance. The juice of mag- 
uey is very irritating, and causes inflammation of the 
hands of the strippers. 
Most of the common tropical crops are raised suc- 
cessfully. Amongst them are pineapples, taro, yams, 
mangoes, coconuts, siigareane, and i)apaws. Pineapple 
pulp is frequently allowed to become infected with a 
mould, and the resultant fermented sweet Qiada de 
pina) is A^ery highly esteemed. The sugary saps of the 
buri palm (Corypha elata) and of the coconut (Cocos 
nucifera) is collected by cutting off the inflorescence 
and attaching a bamboo tube to the cut end. The sugary 
sap collects in the tube and is fermented to produce a 
wine known as tuba. Pice Avater is also fermented to 
produce sake, but the quality of the product A'aries 
greatly Avith the locality. Coconuts are floated down the 
riA^er in circular rafts, constructed by tying the coco- 
nuts in twos AAuth partially detached pieces of their 
husks, and intertwining them witli one another. 
Most of the industries are ])rimary and the main ex- 
ports are copra and hemp. A considerable trade is car- 
ried on with Australia, the bulk of the meat coming 
from Wyndham and Port Darwin. At present there is 
a certain amount of agitation against the importation 
of Australian cattle because of the outbreak of ])leuro- 
pneumonia in Western Australia. A number of horses 
are also imported from the Northern Territory and Ihe 
North-west, and are used by the American army and a 
few liA^ery stables; most of them, howeA'er, come from 
the Tmited States. They are a striking contrast to the 
small natiA’e horses, whicli are em])loyed in tlionsands 
tlu'ougliout the islands to draw ealesas, wliieh are the 
local e(]nivalent of the rickshaw. 
The pig is found Avild in Philippine forests, aud this 
natHe form is the one vdiicli is domesticated. Almost 
every family pos.sesses one cooped under the house and 
fed through a liole in tlie floor. Attem^jts haA'e been 
made to introduce Berkshires and other foreign breeds, 
but they soon die OAving to the attacks of the kidney 
AA'orm. A cross between a native variety (the Jala-Jala) 
and Rerksliire seems to be fairly resistant and is a great 
'improvement on the original razor-back. Goats and 
