292 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
to almost any extent. The chiefs are fond of 
coffee as a beverage, and, with the people, will 
doubtless raise it for their own use; and as it re¬ 
quires but comparatively little attention, probably 
it may be furnished in a greater abundance than 
either sugar or cotton. 
The tobacco plant is another exotic, common 
now in all the islands : it was introduced by Capt. 
Cook, and has since been grown by the natives 
merely for their own use. Mr. Williams en> 
couraged its cultivation to a considerable extent 
in the island of Raiatea, and the natives were 
taught to prepare it for the market of New South 
Wales, in a manner that rendered the Raiatean 
tobacco equal to any brought into Sydney. A 
lucrative branch of industry and commerce now 
appeared open to the enterprising and industrious 
inhabitants, when a heavy duty, which, accord¬ 
ing to report, in order to favour its growth in 
New Holland, was laid upon all taken into the 
port of Sydney, prevented their continuing its cul¬ 
ture with the least expectation of profit. It was 
therefore in a great degree abandoned. The in¬ 
formation, however, which the inhabitants received 
from the individual whom Mr. Williams employed 
to instruct them, not only in its growth, but in the 
methods of preparing it in the different forms 
under which it is offered in the markets, was valu¬ 
able ; and though no very advantageous results 
have hitherto followed, it may hereafter be pro¬ 
ductive of good. 
