may be reckoned those that would naturally cover the plains, even supposing that the island was not inhabited; in the same manner that the white barked trees, found at Van Diemen's Island, constitute the forests there; and from this we may observe, that the inhabitant of Otaheite, instead of being obliged to plant his bread, will rather be under a necessity of retarding its progress; which I suppose is sometimes done to give room for trees of another sort, and to afford him some variety in his food.

The chief of these are the cocoa-nut and plantain ; the first of which can give no trouble, after it has raised itself a foot or two above the ground; but the plantain requires a little more care; for after it is planted, it shoots up; and, in about three months, begins to bear fruit; during which time it gives young shoots, which supply a succession of fruit; for the old stocks are cut down as the fruit is taken off.

The products of the island, however, are not so remarkable for their variety, as great abundance; and curiosities of any kind are not numerous: amongst these we may reckon, a pond or lake of fresh water, at the top of one of the highest mountains, to go to, and return from which, takes three or four days; it is remarkable for its depth, and has eels of an enormous size in it, which are sometimes caught by the natives, who go upon the water in little floats of two or three wild plantain trees, fastened together. This is esteemed one of the greatest natural curiosities of the country, insomuch that travellers, who come from the other islands, are commonly asked, amongst the first things, by their friends, at their return, if they have seen it. There is also a sort of water, of which there is only one small pond upon the island, as far distant as the lake, and to appearance very good, with a yellow sediment at the bottom; but it has a bad taste, and proves fatal to those who drink any quantity; or makes them break out in blotches, if they bathe in it."-Captain

Cook's last Voyage round the World, vol. ii. pages 144,

145, 146.

NOTE 10. PAGE 67.

Or softly trill'd the plaintive measure,
Or wak'd the song to notes of pleasure.

"Such a disposition leads them" (the people of Otaheite)" to direct all their aims only to what can give them pleasure and ease their amusements all tend to excite and continue their amorous passions; and their songs, of which they are immoderately fond, answer the same purpose; but we found, that they frequently varied them to more refined subjects, and had much pleasure in chanting their triumphs in war, and their occupations in peace; their travels to other islands, and their adventures there; and the peculiar beauties and advantages of their own island over the rest, or of different parts of it over other less favorite

districts. This marks, that they receive great delight from music, and though they rather expressed a dislike to our complicated compositions, yet were they always delighted with the more melodious sounds produced singly on our instruments, as approaching nearer to the simplicity of their own."-Ibid. page 149.

NOTE 11. PAGE 68.

Their blooming train

Of cherub children trod the plain.

"I was much delighted, in this walk, with the number of children that I saw in every part of the country: they are very handsome and sprightly, and full of antic tricks. They have many diversions that are common with the boys in England; such as flying kites, cats cradle, swinging, dancing, or jumping in a rope, walking upon stilts, and wrestling."-Bligh's Voyage to the South Seas, page 107.

NOTE 12. PAGE 74.

"Slaves to their superstition wild,

"Th' Arreoy's will destroy my child!

"With its first breath will seize their prize,
"Unfather'd, unreveng'd it dies!"

"All that I could make out of this strange ceremony was, that the Arreoys are highly respected, and that the society is chiefly composed of men distinguished by their valor, or some other merit, and that great trust and confidence is reposed in them; I learnt from Tinah, in talking about his children, that his first-born child was killed as soon as it came into the world, he being then an Arreoy; but before his second child was born, he quitted the society. Such of the natives as I conversed with about the institution of so extraordinary a society as the Arreoy,