over-population, w hich muft fometimes almoft neceffarily
happen, or to wars, I have not been able to determine;-
though the truth o f the fa i t ma y fairly be inferred, from
the great ceconomy that they obferve with refpeA to their
food, even when there is plenty. In times o f fcarcity, after
their bread-fruit and yams are confumed, they have re-
courfe to various roots, w hich grow, without cultivation,
upon the mountains. The patarra, which is found in vaft
quantities, is what the y ufe firft. It is not un like a very
large potatoe or yam, and good when in its g rowin g ftatey
but, when old, is fu ll o f hard ftringy fibres. T h e y then eat
two other roots ; one not unlike fa « ; and, laitly, the ehoee.
This is o f two forts ; one o f them poflefling deleterious
qualities, w h ich obliges them to flice and macerate it in
water, a night before they bake- and eat it. In this refpeft,
it refembles the cajfava root o f the.Weft-Iradies ; but it forms
a ve ry infipid, moift pafte, in the manner they drefs. it.
However, I have feen them eat it at times when no fuch
fcarcity reigned. Both this and the patarra are creeping
plants; the laft, with ternate leaves. .
O f animal food,- a very fmaU portion falls, at any time, to
the ihare o f the lower clafs o f people; and then it is either fifli,
iea-eggs, or other m arine productions; for they feldom or ever
eat pork. T he Eree de hoi * alone, is able to fu rn ilh p o rk every
day ; and inferior Chiefs, according to their riches, once a
week, fortnight, or month. Sometimes, they are not even
allowed that; for, when the ifland is impoveriihed by war,
or other caufes, the C h ie f prohibits his fubjedls to k ill any
b e g s ; and this prohibition, we were told, is in force, fometimes,
for feveral months, or even for a year or two. Dur-
* M r. Anderfon invariably, in his manufcript, writes Eree de hoi. According to
Captain Cook’s mode, it is Eree rahie. T h is is one of- the numerous inftances that
perpetually occur, o f our people’ s representing the fame word differeiitly.
in g that reftraint, the hogs' multiply fo faft, that there are De‘ " 7b-er
inftances o f their chan gin g theirdomeftic ftate, and turnin g v.— y -
wild. When it is thought proper to take o ff the prohibition,
all the Chiefs alienable, at the k in g ’ s place o f abode; ami
each brings with him a prefent o f hogs. T he k in g then
orders fome o f them to be killed, on which they feaft; and,
after that, every one returns home with liberty to k ill what
he pleafes for his own ufe. Such a prohibition was adtually
in force, on our laft arrival here ; at leaft, in all thofe diftriffs
-of the ifland, that are immediately under the direAion o f
Otoo. And, left it ihould have prevented our go in g to
Matavai after leaving Oheitepeha, he fent a meflage to
allure us, that it Ihould be taken off, as foon as the
lliips arrived there. With refpeA. to us, we found it
f o ; but we made fuch a confumption o f them, that, I
have no doubt, it wou ld be laid on again, as foon as we
Failed. A fimilar prohibition is alfo, fometimes, extended
to fowls.
It is alfo amongft the better fort, that the ava is chiefly
ufed. But this beverage is prepared fomewhat differently,
from that which w e faw fo much o f at the Friendly Illands.
For they pour a very fmall quantity o f water upon the root
here; and fometimes roaft or bake, and bruife the ftalks,
without ch ew in g it previoully to its infufion. T h e y alfo
ufe the leaves o f the plant here, which are bruifed, and
water poured upon them, as upon the root. Large companies
do not affemble to drink it, in that fociable w ay which
is praAifed at Tongataboo. But its pernicious effeAs are
more obvious h e re ; perhaps, ow in g to the manner o f preparing
it; as we often faw inftances o f its intoxicating, or
rather ftupifyin g powers. Some o f us, who had been at
thefe illands before, were furprized to find many people,
who, when w e faw them laft, were remarkable for their
X 2 _ . fize