POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
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tured, in a tliick mucilaginous fluids which is hardened 
by exposure to the sun, and is very serviceable in ren¬ 
dering water-tight the seams of their canoes. The bark 
of the young branches is used in making several varieties 
of native cloth. The trunk of the tree also furnishes one 
of the most valuable kinds of timber which the natives 
possess, it being used in building their canoes and houses, 
and in the manufacture of their articles of furniture. It 
is of a rich yellow colour, and assumes, from the effects 
of the air, the appearance of mahogany 5 it is not 
tough, but durable when not exposed to the weather. 
It is very probable, that in no group of the Pacific 
Islands is there a greater variety in the kinds of this 
valuable fruit, than in the South Sea Islands. The 
several varieties ripen at different seasons, and the 
same kinds also come to perfection at an earlier 
period in one part of Tahiti than in another ; so that 
there are but few months in the year in which ripe 
fruit is not to be found in the several parts of this 
island. The Missionaries are acquainted with nearly 
fifty varieties, for which the natives have distinct names 
—these I have by me, but it is unnecessary to insert 
them—the principal are, the paea^ artocarpus incisa, 
and the uru maohe^ artocarpus integrifolia. 
Next to the bread-fruit, the taro, or arum, is the 
most serviceable article of food the natives possess, and 
its culture receives a considerable share of their atten¬ 
tion. It has a large, solid, tuberous root, of an oblong 
shape, sometimes nine or twelve inches in length, and 
five or six in diameter. The plant has no stalk; the 
broad heart-shaped leaves rise from the upper end of the 
root, and the flower is contained in a sheath or spathe. 
There are several varieties; for thirty-three of which 
