troduced by the missionary establishments
have succeeded wonderfully. Peaches and
water melons now were in full season ; the
natives brought baskets full of them to our
door every day, which they exchanged with
us for the merest trifles, such as a fish-hook,
or a button.
Indian corn was likewise very abundant,
but as the natives did not possess any means
or knowledge of grinding it, they were not
aware of its full value. Their only method
of cooking it was one very disgusting to
Europeans. They soaked the ear in water
till it was quite soft and sour, the smell from
which was exceedingly offensive ; they then
placed it in their earth ovens to bake ; and
when they partook of it they seemed to enjoy
it very much.
In one of my journeys across the island I
was accompanied by my Scotch friend, Mr.
Shand, who prided himself very much upon
his general knowledge of agricultural pursuits
; and when I indulged in some sudden
bursts of admiration at the beauty of the surrounding
prospect, he would invariably check
my enthusiasm, by observing that no animals
could possibly live in a country so overgrown
with fern, and where no grass was indigenous.
These observations, often repeated, obliged
me to qualify my admiration of this picturesque
and beautiful land; but my surprise,
and I may say my triumph, were complete,
when, on approaching the missionary village
of Kiddy Kiddy, we fell in with a herd of at
least a hundred fat cattle, browsing on the
sides of the hill, and having nothing else but
this very fern to eat; and, on enquiry, we
found they gave as good milk, and were in as
healthy a condition, as when they grazed on
the rich grasses of Lincolnshire.
My friend, Captain Duke, made great preparations
for the return of his ships, and
purchased many pigs to be salted. The self-
denial of the natives is wonderful: though
very fond of animal food, they sell the whole
to us Europeans for the means of war; thus
conquering the appetite for the purpose of
possessing arms to make them terrible in the
sight of their enemies. This feeling, properly
directed, may lead to their becoming a great
k 4