Polynesian., 1853-10-08
CHE polpnesian.
A REPORT
On the Agricultural Resources, .4nnals and
Prospects of B0nabe, or ascension Island,
By L. H. GuLIcK.
IEa.I....aL C.. ~ ~

1
Prospects of Bonabe, or ascension Island,
By L. H. GULIcK
Continued from No 21.)
To the members of the r. II. Agricultural Society
3. The facts which have gathered relat-
ing 10 the climate and meteorology of Bona
be, are but few though interesting
The N. E. trade winds commence blowing
here in November and December, and con-
itnue fresh through March into April, then
lgive way to west winds and variables The
law which governs this peculiar action of the
trades may be simple and known to all mete-
lorologists but neither my own general know
ledge not that of any one with whom have
conversed furnishes the rationale.
This island has the general reputation of
being blessed with unusual degrees of hu-
midity; though question whether greater
lquantity of rain falls here than on most of
1.-THE islands Of the torrd zone 1t is my i'm
lpression that the falls of rain are more equa-
Ible through all the seasons Of the year than
lon some other islands II is both puzzling
land amusing to hear the various and contra
ldictory statements of the residents as to the
Irainy season.; which IS confirmatory of the
remark just made. However, cannot but
VI
that the rains are heavier and more persis-
tent during at least the months of January
and February--that there is also more cou-
dy weather during these than during the mid
summer months
From Oct 18th, 1852 to March lst, 1853,
the lowest at which Fahrenheh's Thermom-
ieter stood, at sunrise, as by my tables me-
neurological, was 72a and the highest SIC
no hof H.
riod, at noon or the warmest portion of the
day, the lowest was 500, the highest s9s, the
mean being S4Sa, and at sunset the lowest
was 79s, the highest 80 and the mean Sl1o.
During the month from Oct. 18th, the
morning mean was 500, the mean at noon
$50. and the evening mean slIo During
Jan. the morning mean was 7So, the noon
mean So, the evening mean S2o Dur ng
February, the morning mean was TO, the
mean at noon $40, the evening mean SIio
The mean Of the month from Oct 18th, was
$50, the mean of Jan. sly, and the mean of
Feb. SO5o. ought however to remark that
the tables of Feb. were kept at my present
residence OH the Rono Kittie and our former
residence at Raj was in a warmer position
so that the apparent differences between JAM
and Feb. may have been and probably were
due rather TO local than general influences
III. Regarding the Agricultural annals of
Ascension island, have accumulated con-
siderable body Of facts, for which am prin-
c;pally indebted to Mr.. James Cook and Mr..
Louis Corgat. cannot but hope they will
all bc considered of sufficient interest to have
been thus preserved Many of these items
if not soon secured will be irrevocably lost TO
the future civilized inhabitants Of Bonabe,
and that no doubt would be the especial loss
and grief of all the M;cronesian Antigua
rians that are to be. will first enumerate
the principal productions native to the island
found upon it at the period Of its discovery,
and it has been my object to give a correct
general report of the richness and variety of
the native productions rather than detailed
statement of every minute plant and animal.
will secondly give chronological state
ment of all introductions from foreign sour
ces since the period of the islands discovery,
intending to be as minute and correct in all
Imy particulars Us possible Yet let me crave
the indulgence Of every one who may sooner
or later detect any mistakes and omissions
In collecting from the memory of natives
and foreign residents 80 large number of
floating facts, which have never before been
committed to paper, it would not be singular
if some mistakes should be chargeable either
to myself or my informants; ;-and for both
parties ask charitable criticisms
| |. In some Of the statements shall make
concerning native productions, | may expect
to shake the confidence of the reader as to
the possibility Of my correctness;-and /
therefore remark preIiminarily, that in all
such extraordinary particulars have taken
more than my ordinary pains to learn the ac-
tual facts. | commence with the animal
kingdom, which is as properly reported as the
vegetable.
| Dogs, called on Bonabe, Kill. There was
Originally here fox-like variety of dog
small, short-legged, long-bodied, and with
a bushy tail, useless as a watch dog, but
raised in considerable numbers for food
They were not wild, but IN measure domes
ticated. They are not now to be found in
their original purity of blood, having been
mixed with foreign breeds, the traces of the
pure type are found in the great mass Of the
dogs of the present day.
BIRDS. There are several kinds Of both
lsnd and sea birds; nor am certain that
give the names of all that visit or live on this
island in the following enumeration. tA)l
Sea birds-1. Paret, very numerous, g. Six,
or boatswain, 3. Leporok, T. Man in wa,
man-of-war bird, 5. Kakai, small white
bird, 6. Kulu, King-fsher, Z. Kaualik, al
very common bird Of the wading family, g.
Shakias. (B.) Land birds.-I. Muroi, COM
monty called pigeons, 2 Kinuat, my inform
ants speak of them as green pigeons, 3.
Woutile, 4. Likapare, they have very long
tail, and appear just before the coming in ofI
the great breadfruit crop Of the spring
They utter sort Of cry, which the natives
say is joking demand for breadfruit, though
they themselves are supposed to bring it. 5.