times these canoes were used
singly, but then they were fitted with outriggers like the flying Proa
of the Ladrone Islands. The outrigger is a log of wood fixed at the end
of two poles, which lie across the vessel, projecting eight or ten feet,
according to her size. The length and high sterns of these canoes gave
them great advantage in putting off from the shore through the surf;
they also sailed and paddled very fast. The amount of time and labour
expended in the construction of one of these canoes must have been very
great, and speaks well for the intelligence as well as for the industry
and perseverance of the islanders.

Before quitting the island, Mr Banks planted a quantity of seeds of
water-melons, oranges, lemons, limes, and other plants and trees which
he had collected at Rio de Janeiro. He had prepared the ground for them
in the neighbourhood of the fort, in as many varieties of soil as he
could select. He also gave away seeds liberally to the natives, and
planted others in the woods. The plants from some melon-seeds which
were sown on their first arrival were flourishing, and the natives
eagerly begged for more.

Many articles manufactured by the natives have not yet been described.
The mode of making cloth from the bark of the paper-mulberry was
curious. When the trees were of a fit size, they were pulled up, and
the tops and roots being cut off, the bark was slit longitudinally, and
was this easily removed. It was then placed under stones in running
water. When sufficiently softened, the coarser parts were scraped away
with a shell, the fine fibres of the inner coat only remaining. They
were then placed on plantain-leaves, in lengths of about twelve yards,
one by the side of the other, for about a foot in width. Two or three
layers were also placed one on the other, care being taken that the
thickness should be equal throughout. In this state it remained till
the following morning, when all the water it contained being drained off
or evaporated, the fibres were found to adhere so closely together that
the whole piece could be lifted up and carried home. There it was
placed on a long, smooth board, to be beaten by the women. The
instrument they used was a four-sided piece of wood, with a long handle.
This mallet was scored with grooves of different finenesses, those on
one side being wide enough to receive a small pack-thread, the size of
the grooves diminishing by degrees till those on the