54 
PORTER’S JOURNAL. 
which is then hung together in bunches to a cocoa-nut tree, situ¬ 
ated near their dwelling, at a sufficient height from the ground 
to place them in perfect security, where they are left to dry 
and cure, to be laid up afterwards for a season of scarcity. In 
this state many are found to sprout near the stem, and all such 
are collected together for planting; which is done after the shell 
is broken and a greater part of the inside is taken out, which, in 
their sprouting state, consists chiefly of a soft spongy substance 
with which the inner shell in time becomes filled. This is very 
sweet and agreeable to the taste, and is much esteemed by them. 
After this the shell is buried in the ground, and a small inclosure 
of stones is made round it to prevent the hogs from rooting it up. 
This tree bears in about five years after it is planted. The cocoa- 
nut is said to have been brought from an island called Ootoopoo 
by a god named Tao, many generations since: this island is sup¬ 
posed by them to lie somewhere to the windward of La Magda¬ 
lena, one of the group of Marquesas. While I am on this sub¬ 
ject I must beg leave to mention several islands which are sup¬ 
posed by the natives to exist, and which, if they do exist, are en¬ 
tirely unknown to us: and so fully are they impressed with the be¬ 
lief that large double canoes have frequently left this and other 
islands of this group to go in search of them. The grandfather 
of Gattanewa sailed with four large canoes in search of land, tak¬ 
ing with him a large stock of provisions and water, together with 
a quantity of hogs, poultry, and young plants. He was accompa¬ 
nied by several families, and has never been heard of since he sail¬ 
ed. Temaa Tipee and his whole tribe, about two years since, had 
many large double canoes constructed for the purpose of aban¬ 
doning their valley, and proceeding in search of othey islands, un¬ 
der the apprehension that they would be driven off their land by 
other tribes; but peace took place, the canoes were taken to pie¬ 
ces, and are now carefully deposited in a house, constructed for 
the purpose, where they may be kept in a state of preservation to 
guard against future contingencies. 
More than eight hundred men, women and children, Wilson 
assures me, have, to his knowledge, left this and the other islands 
of this and the Marquesas Group in search of other lands; none 
have ever been heard of except in one instance. Four canoes 
