378 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
The several kinds of animal food^ and the varied edible 
vegetables^ are good; and, could flour be procured, and 
occasionally beef or mutton, Europeans Avould find the 
diet every way adapted to their support; but the princi¬ 
pal animal food being, with the exception of a few goats, 
either fowls or pork, (the kind of meat of which we are 
perhaps likely to tire sooner than of any other,) and want¬ 
ing bread and all the varied preparations of flour, the 
native food is generally found not to afford that 
strength and nourishment which Europeans are accus¬ 
tomed to derive from the diet of their own country. 
The native fruits are delicious; and their number has 
been greatly increased by the addition of many of the 
most valuable tropical fruits. Oranges, shaddocks, limes, 
and other plants, were introduced by Captains Cook, 
Bligh, and Vancouver. Vines were originally taken by the 
Missionaries, but nearly destroyed by the natives in their 
wars. In 1824 I brought a number of plants from the 
Sandwich Islands ; which, I have since heard, thrive well. 
Citrons, tamarinds, pine-apples, guavas. Cape mulberries, 
and figs; custard apples, annona triloba^ and coffee 
plants, have at different times been introduced, and 
successfully cultivated, by the Missionaries. Many 
foreign vegetables have been tried, yet few of them 
thrive. The growth of wheat has been more than once 
attempted. Pumpkins, melons, water-melons, cucum¬ 
bers, cabbages, and French-beans, flourish better than 
any other foreign vegetables. 
To the list of the edible vegetables, fruits, and roots 
of the Society Islands, given in the preceding chapter, 
others might probably be added, but these are sufficient 
to shew the abundance, diversity, nutritiveness, delicacy, 
and richness of the provision spontaneously furnished 
