The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-29

Of . much larger type In otahite. The author
Of this journal measured one that was le2 feet
long and more than 90 feet broad. These struc-
lures served, in some districts, for assemblies,
or for the reception OF visitors of consequence,
but they were also used as dwelling houses by
the more important members of the community.
One Of the reasons why otahlte. n century
and q quarter ago. was regarded by English
visitors as an island paradise was tho ease with
which nourishment was procured by the inhab-
itants. Nothing impressed Sir Joseph Banks
more than this. He points out that, In the
article of food, these happy people might al
most DO said TO be exempt from the curse i'm
posed upon the sons of Adam; scarcely could It
be taid that they earned their bread by the
sweat Of their brow, when their chief susie
nance. bread fruit. was secured with no moro
trouble than that OF climbing q tree and pulling
It down. Not, indeed. that the bread fruit trees
grew there spontaneously, but IL a man. in the
course Of his life planted ten such trees, which
might require the labor of an hour or there
abouts, he would as completely fulfil his duty
to his own. as we'll as future generations, as
would the natives Of less temperate climates by
toillnR Ia the cold of winter to SOW. and in the
heat of summer to reap, the annual produce OF
tho soil. So far as these South Sea Islands were
concerned. nature had not only provided their
denizens with necessarles, but with an album
dance of superfluities. Besides the bread fruit.
the earth. almost spontaneously, produces CO.
coanuts; bananas OF thirteen sorts: plaintains;
. fruit not unlike an apple. which. when ripe, is
found very pleasant; sweet potatoes and yams;
sugar cane. which the inhabitants eat raw; n
fruit In o pod. like o large hull of q kidney bean,
which. when roasted, tastes much like a chest.
nut; and the fruit of n tree called wharra, which
is, in appearance, like n pineapple. We may
mention that the botanical names since given to
these and other fruits found in the South Sea
Islands are enumerated by Sir Joseph Hooker
in foot notes. The islanders are not confined
to vegetable food. The sea. in the neighborhood
o. which they always live, supplies them with a
great variety of fish, but these, OF course, they
do not get without some trouble. Almost every
thing which comes out Of the sea 10 eaten by
these people. HOLSTERS. crabs. even sea insects.
md what the seamen call blubbers, conduce to
their support. or tame animals. they were OBJ
served by their first European visitors to have
hoSe, fowls, and dogs. Sir Joseph Banks learned
from them to eat the last-named animal, and
AYERS that n South Sea dog was next in sue
culence to an English lamb. This he attrib-
utes to the fact that the dogs In otahite
lived entirely upon vegetables. The South Sea
pork also proved excellent. though some
times too fat; the fowls. on the other hand,
were no better than the European varieties, and
they were often very tough. On the whole, the
quantity of flesh obtainable was inadequate TO
the number of the people; 1t was. therefore.
used but seldom. even the principal chiefs not
having 1t every day or even every week. Cook
cry seems to have been but little studied. The
process of baking used by them was not unlike
that employed for what is termed a Rhode
Island clambake. A hole was dug in the ground.
wherein was placed a heap of wood and stones
laid alternately. Fire was then put to it. which
by tho time IL had consumed the wood would
have thoroughly heated the stones. Tho heapof
heated stones was then divided, the bottom and
the sides of the hole being paved with half of
them: onthese were laid divers sorts of provis-
ions. always wrapped up neatly In leaves. Above
these were placed the remaining half Of the
hot stones, over which were piled leaves to
the thickness Of three or four inches. and over
these again any rubbish that was at hand. In
this position the food was left about two hours,
in which time Sir Joseph Banks saw q middle
sized hog very well cooked; indeed, he was OF
the opinion that ~yictuals, and especially large
fish. dressed in this way. were more juicy. II not
more equally done. than when prepared by any
OF tho European methods. Small fish the i5l-
anders often ate raw. and sometimes large ones.
Sir Joseph. by being constantly with them,
learned to do the same. and says that. with his
stomach. at least. fish. when eaten raw. agreed
rs we'll as when dressed, and, II anything.
was still easier Of digestion. To the diet
OF the islanders, prepared with 30 much
simplicity. salt water was the universal sauce;
Sir Joseph found that those who lived at the
greatest distance from the sea were never with
out it, keeping it in large bamboos set up against
the sides of their houses. When they ate. q
cocoanut shell full OF salt water always stood
near them. into which they dipped every NOR
eel. especially fish. and often left the whole hsh
soaking in it. drinking the while large sups Of it
out OF their hands. SO that q man would use.
perhaps. nalf a pint of it at a meal. Drink they
had none. except water and cocoanut juice, nor
could Sir Joseph Banks discover that they had
any method of producing intoxication. Some
there were who drank pretty freely of the En-
Rlish liquors, and In q few instances became
very drunk; but such individuals seemed far
from being pleased with their experience. and
afterward Stunned a repetition of it. instead of
desiring 1t. as most Indians are said to do.
Before passing TO what the author has TO tell
us about New Zealand. we note that marriage
in the South Sea Islands was observed to be no
more than an agreement between man and
woman. totally independent of the priest: the
covenant was then generally we'll kept, unless
the parties agreed to separate; custom allowed
them to part as freely as they came together.
As matter of fact, few people entered into a
contract of marriage. but rather chose COM
pleto freedom of intercourse, though this was
bought at the cost Of their children. whose fate.
in such cases. wSs entirely dependent on the.
father; IL he did not choose to acknowledge.
both them and the woman. and engage to con-
tribute his part toward their support, the chill
dren were instantly stranRied.
".
In the chapters allotted to New Zealand 1t Is.
indesd. surprising to remark to what an extent
Sir Joseph Banks was able to anticipate what
we now know Of the Maoris. In his general ac-
count" of this group he says that he found the