Fruits (continued)

Hooerro Toomoo or Cabbage Tree Grows also in the Mountains, but are small & not very Plenty — they seldom exceed 30 feet in heigth — the Bark is rough & hard pointing over like Scales from the Earth to the top of the tree where the Cabbage Grows singly, and the leaves or branches look like fern forming a Circle Horisontally — they seldom eat the Cabbages as it is some trouble to get them.

Pirreepirree is a small shrub growing to the Size of Heath, and with the bark they make a very fine Matting for Sashes or Marros. Eayeeay is a king of running shrub or vine of which they make Fish pots, & other Wickerwork and it is used in the Construction of their Houses, answering better then line for securing those parts that are exposed to the weather.

Toe or Sugar Cane Grows here without Cultivation to as large a size as any in the East or West Indies, and I make no doubt but if Cultivated would be much larger; the Natives make no use of it except to Chew as they pass where it Grows and when it becomes too thick, they Clear the Ground by Setting it on fire. Toepappaa or Indian Corn was first Introduced by the Bounty — and is now to be found in all the Islands — it Grows here luxuriantly and We have produced three Crops from the same seed and a fourth well on in a twelve month — it may be produced in any of the Islands with little trouble as the Soil of the Whole is in general good from the Beach to the top of the Mountains, but the Natives tho they are fond of it never take the pains to Cultivate it in any quantity; alledgeing that they have plenty of Food, and it is therefore no use to labour for what Nature has abundantly Supply’d them — and Such is their Oppinion respecting evry other Article of Food Introduced amongst them by European Ships which are either distroyd by Shifting from place to place as Curiositys, or suffered to run wild for want of being Cultivated and taken Care of. Some of the Cobbs of Corn which we produced were 12 inches long and well filld.

They have several sweet herbs for scenting their Oil & Cloth — and a kind of Cresses which makes excellent sallad are to be found in all parts of the Country, all the English Garden seeds planted

Indigenous Histories