aJ”i?st to raife the water, which might by that means be introduced
into their plantations of the tarro, or eddy-root
{a rum e fculentum,) that requires a very marfhy, and fome-
times an inundated foil. We found two fpecies of it, one
of which has large glofiy leaves, and roots about four feet
long, but is very coarfe; the other with velvet leaves and
fmall, but more palatable roots. Both are exceffively pungent
and cauftic, till boiled in feveral waters ; however, hogs
eat them raw without any reluctance. The valley became
narrower as we advanced up along the rivulet, and the
hills which included it were much fteeper, and covered with
forefts. Every part of the level ground was, however,
planted with coco-nut, apple, and bread-fruit trees, with
bananas, cloth-trees, and various roots, and a number of
houfes were conveniently fituated at flrort diftances from
each other. In different parts we met with immenfe beds
of loofe pebble-ftones in the rivulet and on its banks,
which feemed to have been wafhed out of the mountains,
and worn into round or oblong fiiapes, by the continual
motion and agitation of the water. On the fides of the
hills we gathered feveral new plants, fometimes at the rilk
of breaking our necks, on account of the -pieces of rock
which rolled away under our feet. A great number of inhabitants
affembled about us, and among them feveral who
brought us abundance of coco-nuts, bread-fruit, and
apples for fale. We bought as much as we thought neceffary
ceffary for our provifion, and hired fome of the natives to A u g u s t .
carry it. After proceeding up about five miles from the
fea-fide we fat down in the lhade of a number of trees,
on a pleafant green turf, and made our meal, which confuted
of the fruit we had purchafed, and of fome pork and.
fifh which we had taken from on board. The natives
formed a circle round us ; but thofe who had been our
guides and affiftants were permitted to fit by us, and partook
of our cheer with a very good appetite. They were
mod furprifed at the fait, which we had taken care to
provide, and which they faw us eat with all forts of victuals,
bread-fruit not excepted. Some of them were de-
firous of tailing it, and among thefe there were a few who
reli(hed it very well, becaufe they are ufed to employ
fea-water as a fauceboth to fifii and to pork*.
It was about four o'clock in the afternoon, when we
thought of returning to the fea-fide with our acquifitions.
About this time a number of inhabitants came acrofs the
hills with loads of horfe-plantanes, a coarfe fort, which
grows almoft without cultivation, and which they brought
for fale to our fhips. We followed them along the fide
of the rivulet to a place where fome children offered us
a. f e w little prawns picked out between the Hones in the-
bed of the river. We had.no fooner taken them as. a.
curiofity, and rewarded the children with- beads,, than.
*' Sfe. Hawkefworth,. voL. II. p. 200, 201. ■
upwards»