39* A VOYAGE TO 
1777. things that relate to navigation, are the objects of their 
_ * u y_' care*. Cultivated roots and fruits being their principal 
iupport, this requires their conflant attention to agricul¬ 
ture, which they purfue very diligently, and feem to have 
brought almoft to as great perfection as circumftances will 
permit. The large extent of the plantain fields has been 
taken notice of already ; and the fame may be faid of the 
yams ; thefe two together, being, at leafl, as ten to one, 
with refpect to all the other articles. In planting both 
thefe, they dig fmall holes for their reception, and, after¬ 
ward, root up the furrounding grafs, which, in this hot 
country, is quickly deprived of its vegetating power, and, 
foon rotting, becomes a good manure. The inftruments 
they ufe for this purpofe, which they call hooo, are nothing 
more than pickets or ftakes of different lengths, according 
to the depth they have to dig. Thefe are flattened and 
fharpened to an edge at one end; and the largeft have a 
fhort piece fixed tranfverfely, for prefling it into the 
ground with the foot. With thefe, though they are not 
more than from two to four inches broad, they dig and 
plant ground of many acres in extent. In planting the 
plantains and yams, they obferve fo much exaClnefs, that, 
whichever way you look, the rows prefent themfelves re¬ 
gular and complete. 
The cocoa-nut and bread-fruit trees are fcattered about 
without any order, and feem to give them no trouble, after 
* How remarkably does Captain Cook’s account of the employments of the women 
and men here, agree with Father Cantova’s, of the Caroline Iflanders ?—“ La principale 
occupation des hommes, eft de conftruire des barques, de pecher, et de cultiver la terre. 
H L’affaire des femmes eft de faire la cuifine, et de mettre en oeuvre un efpece de plante 
fauvage, et un arbre,—pour en faire de la toile.” Lettres Edifiantes et Curieufes , Tom. 
XV, p. 313. 
they 
