POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES, 
401 
newspapers dyed, for covers to the sides. In staining 
these papers, they were covered over with the juice of 
the stems of the mountain plantain, or fei. The young 
plants brought from the mountains were generally two 
or three inches in diameter at the lower end. The root 
was cut off above the part that had .been in the ground, 
and the stem being then fixed over a vessel, half a pint 
sometimes of thick purple juice exuded from it. This 
was immediately spread upon the paper, imparting to 
the sheet, when dried in the ^un, a rich glossy purple 
colour, which remained as long as the paper lasted. If 
lime-juice was sprinkled upon it, a beautiful and delicate 
pink was produced. When the juice of the fei was 
allowed to remain till the next day, the liquor became 
much thinner, assumed a brownish red tinge, and im¬ 
parted only a slight colour to the paper. 
The process of binding appeared to the natives much 
more simple than that of printing; yet, in addition to 
those whom we were endeavouring to instruct, each of 
the principal chiefs sent one of his most clever men, to 
learn how to put a book together. For some time we 
hound every book that was given to the natives; but our 
materials being expended long before they were supplied, 
and the people continuing impatient for the books, 
even in sheets—rather than keep them destitute of the 
Scripture already printed, they were thus distributed. 
Those among the natives who had learned to bind 
were now overwhelmed with business, and derived no in¬ 
considerable emolument from their trade, as they required 
each person to bring the pasteboard necessary for his own 
books, and also a piece of skin or leather for the back, 
or for the whole cover. Many soon learned to sew the 
sheets together, others cut pieces of wood very thin^ 
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