338 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
rocky, the land is high and rugged, and the 
southern mountains are occasionally covered with 
snow. In the large northern island, where the 
principal, if not the only, settlements of Europeans 
are situated, the climate is salubrious, the thermo¬ 
meter ranging between 40 and 80 degrees, avoid¬ 
ing the heat of the tropical climates, yet warmer 
than most of the temperate latitudes, generally 
equable, and seldom experiencing those sudden 
vicissitudes so frequent and injurious in the variable 
climate of England. The soil in many parts is 
fertile; and though few articles of food are indi¬ 
genous, or when introduced grow spontaneously, 
yet it is capable of a high state of cultivation, and' 
would probably favour not only the growth of 
wheat and other grain, but also of many of the 
fruits and valuable productions of the temperate 
and tropical climates. The mountains do not 
appear so lofty and broken as those of the Society 
Islands, and consequently the soil may be culti 
vated with greater facility. In addition to the 
growth of corn introduced by Mr. Marsden, and 
the assistants of the Missions at the several sta¬ 
tions, the natives have long cultivated the Irish 
potato with facility and advantage. It is not 
indigenous, but was left by some foreign ships, 
and it not only furnishes a valuable addition to 
the means of subsistence for the natives, but a 
very acceptable article of provision for the erew^s 
of the vessels by whem they are visited. Other 
European roots and vegetables have been intro¬ 
duced, but with less success. The kumara, or 
sweet potato, has been long cultivated, although 
the fern root furnishes a principal part of the food 
for the common people at some seasons of the 
year. The country is favourable for rearing cattle 
