SANDWICH ISLANDS. 
17 
covery. The root is sweet and wholesome, and the natives 
have now learned to make an intoxicating liquor from it. 
The leaves woven together formed a light cloak, used 
by the inhabitants of the mountains; and much like 
those formed of the palm leaves by the poorer natives 
of Hindostan, to shelter them while at work in the rice 
fields. Fences are often formed by planting the tee roots 
close together; but the great distinction of this plant is, 
that a stalk of it was the symbol of peace, as the olive is 
with us. Although the art of making sugar was unknown 
to the Islanders, the cane was cultivated with great success, 
as a pleasant and nourishing kind of food. 
Great pains were taken with the plantain grounds, and 
the uru or breadfruit, which nature seems to have substi¬ 
tuted in the Isles of the Pacific for corn, was skilfully at¬ 
tended to*. The sweet potatoe, the yam, and in the dry 
districts, the mountain taro, and the pepper-)-, from which 
six species, three with red and three with white flowers: etlii ulha, ethi taratara 
mata ulha \vha, ethi e matini, are the red ; ethi eaowamai, ethi e’aboabo, ethi 
oheohe, are white.— Solaiider MS. 
* Artocarpus; called also by the Otaheitans, uru. There are two species; 
the incisa and the integrifolia. The use of this excellent fruit is common in 
the islands, from Sumatra westward. The tree has been so long cultivated that 
the seed-bearing trees are but seldom met with : the plants are propagated by 
layers, and come early to bearing. The Otaheitans reckon twenty-two species 
(or varieties) ; the largest is eotea, the smallest, ehei. 
-f* Piper incbrians; published by Foster as Piper Matathisticum. 
D 
