THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
145 
It is, doubtlefs, the natural fertility of the country, com- 1777. 
bined with the mildnefs and ferenity of the climate, that , Decembe L f; 
renders the natives fo carelefs in their cultivation, that, in 
many places, though overflowing with the richeft produc¬ 
tions, the fmalleft traces of it cannot be obferv6d. The 
cloth plant, which is raifed by feeds brought from the 
mountains, and the ava , or intoxicating pepper, which 
they defend from the fun when very young, by covering 
them with leaves of the bread-fruit-tree, are almofh the 
only things to which they feem to pay any attention ; and 
thefe they keep very clean. 
I have inquired very carefully into their manner of 
cultivating the bread-fruit-tree; but was always anfwer- 
ed, that they never planted it. This, indeed, muft be 
evident to every one who will examine the places where 
the young trees come up. It will be "always obferved, 
that they fpring from the roots of the old ones; which 
run along near the furface of the ground. So that the 
bread-fruit-trees may be reckoned thole that would na¬ 
turally cover the plains, even fuppoling that the ifland 
was not inhabited; in the fame manner that the white- 
barked trees, found at Van Diemen’s Land, conftitute the 
forefts there. And from this we may obferve, that the 
inhabitant of Otaheite, inftead of being obliged to plant 
his bread, will rather be under a neceflity of preventing 
its progrefs; which, I fuppofe, is fometimes done, to give 
room for trees of another fort, to afford him fome variety 
in his food. 
The chief of thefe are the cocoa-nut and plantain; the 
hrft of which can give no trouble, after it has raifed itfelf 
a foot or two above the ground; but the plantain requires 
a little more care. For, after it is planted, it fhoots up, 
Vol. II. U and, 
