362 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
taneotisly, it is occasionally cultivated in the native 
gardens, by which means much finer roots are procured. 
When it is raised in this manner, a single root uncut is 
planted; a number of tuberous roots, about the size of 
large new potatoes, are formed at the extremities of 
fibres, proceeding from the root which had been planted. 
The leaves are of a light green colour, and deeply indent¬ 
ed ; they are not attached to one common stem, but the 
stalk of each distinct leaf proceeds from the root. The 
stalk, bearing the flower, rises in a single shaft, resem¬ 
bling a reed, or arrow, three or four feet high, crowned 
with a tuft of light pea-green petalled flowers. These 
are succeeded by a bunch of green berries, resembling 
the berries of the potato. 
When the leaves from the stalk dry or decay, the 
roots are dug up and washed; after which the rind is 
scraped oif with a cowrie shell. The root is then grated 
on a piece of coral, and the pulp pressed through a sieve 
made with the wiry fibrous matting of the cocoa-nut 
husk. This is designed to remove the fibres and other 
woody matter which the root may contain. The pulp, 
or powder, is received in a large trough of water, placed 
beneath the rustic sieve. Here, after having been repeat¬ 
edly stirred, it is allowed to subside to the bottom, and 
the water is poured off. Fresh water is applied and 
removed, until it flows from the pulp, tasteless and 
colourless; the arrow-root is then taken out, dried in the 
sun, and is fit for use. 
The process is simple, but it requires considerable 
care to dry it properly. When partially dry, the natives 
were formerly accustomed to knead or roll it up in circular 
masses, containing six or seven pounds each, and in this 
state expose it to the sun till sufficiently dry to be pre - 
