48 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
it was not extensively used by the natives, but 
formed rather a variety in their dishes at public 
feastings, than an article of general consumption. 
The growth of the arrow-root resembles that of 
the potato. Although indigenous, and growing 
spontaneously, it is occasionally cultivated in the 
native gardens, by which means 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 
indented; 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, resembling 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. To the shape and size of the reed 
or shaft bearing the flower, the arrow -root is 
probably indebted for its name. 
When the leaves from the stalk dry or decay, 
the roots are dug up and washed ; after which the 
rind is scraped off 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, 
