POLYNESIA-N RESEARCHES. 
463 
juice, but the patu^ a small light red, long-jointed cane, 
with a thin husk, or skin, contains the greatest quantity 
of saccharine matter. Some of the sugar manufactured 
by Mr. Gyles was of a very superior quality; and if hired 
labour were less expensive, or the people more in¬ 
dustrious, it might be raised with" facility in considerable 
quantities. The return, however, is distant, and the 
crops are less productive than many other articles that 
might be cultivated in the islands, especially uncon¬ 
nected with the distillation of rum from the refuse of 
the juice, or the molasses of the sugar. This is pro¬ 
bably the only plan that would render it in any degree 
profitable; but to the use of rum, the present chiefs, 
particularly those of the Leeward or Society Islands> 
are averse; its introduction since embracing Chris¬ 
tianity, they have been able to pi’event; and it will 
be matter of deepest regret, if either they or their suc¬ 
cessors should favour its distillation on the islands, or 
its importation from abroad. Next to idolatry, and 
the diseases introduced by foreigners, it is the greatest 
scourge that has ever spread its desolations through 
their country. 
But although these circumstances have hitherto ope>- 
rated against the general culture of the cane, the 
chiefs and some of the people make sugar for their own 
consumption, and have occasionally supplied captains 
of ships, who have wished to replenish their sea-stock. 
In this respect, although the attempt of the Directors 
to introduce' extensively its cultivation, has failed in 
the first instance; the natives have nevertheless ac¬ 
quired, from Mr. Gyles’s transient residence among 
them, an acquaintance with the process of manufac¬ 
turing this valuable article of commerce, which, it is 
