TIIE MARQUESANS. 
311 
probably not more than fifty miles in circum* 
ference; the mountains are lofty, bold in outline, 
and either clothed with verdure, or adorned with 
plantations; cascades roll over the sides of the 
mountains, and streams flow through the val¬ 
leys. The land capable of cultivation, however, 
is comparatively small, as the islands are not pro¬ 
tected, like most others in the Pacific, by coral 
reefs. The sea extends to the base of the moun¬ 
tains, and thus prevents the formation and preser¬ 
vation of that low border of prolific alluvial soil, 
so valuable to the Society Islanders. The shores 
are rocky and precipitous, and a level beach, or a 
good landing-place is seldom met with. Deep, 
wide, and extensive valleys abound in the islands, 
and are the general places where the inhabitants 
abide. The vegetable productions correspond 
with those of the islands to the west, and are cul¬ 
tivated in the spacious valleys. The bread-fruit 
is the chief article of support to the inhabitants, 
it is cultivated and preserved with peculiar care, 
and probably is obtained in greater perfection 
among the Marquesas than in any other islands of 
the Pacific. So careful are the people when ga¬ 
thering it, that they frequently suspend a net under 
the tree, to prevent such as may drop from being 
bruised by falling on the ground. The sea and 
their coasts abound with fish, which contribute 
materially to their subsistence. They have also 
pigs, goats, and fowls, but not in abundance. 
Notwithstanding the fertility of their valleys, and 
the superiority of their bread-fruit, which grows 
spontaneously, seasons of famine are frequent 
and severe, and are occasioned by the indo¬ 
lence of the people, and their dependence on 
the bread-fruit crop; a failure in which, reduces 
