COFFEE-PLANTS FROM NORFOLK ISLAND. 291 
conduct of those who now visit these shores, and 
who, insensible to any other consideration than 
that of avarice or vice, spare no pains to introduce 
ardent spirits among the people, and promote 
its use. 
But although these circumstances have hitherto 
operated 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 exten¬ 
sively its cultivation, has failed in the first instance; 
the natives have, nevertheless, acquired, from 
Mr. Gyles’s residence among them, an acquaint¬ 
ance with the process of manufacturing this 
valuable article of commerce, which, it is pre¬ 
sumed, will prove to the nation an important and 
a permanent advantage. 
The Haweis, in returning to the islands in the 
spring of 1819, touched at Norfolk Island, for¬ 
merly an appendage to the colony of New South 
Wales, and I believe re-occupied since that period. 
From this island the captain brought away a num¬ 
ber of young coffee plants, which, on his arrival in 
the islands, were distributed among the different 
stations. The tender plants were once or twice 
removed, and all perished, excepting those in my 
garden at Huahine, which I was happy to succeed 
in preserving. The climate w'as favourable to 
their growth, and they appeared to thrive well. 
After four years, each tree bore about forty berries, 
which when perfectly ripe were gathered, and sent 
to the several stations. They were planted, and 
have since flourished, so that in every island the 
coffee plant is now growing, and it may be cultivated 
v 2 
