On Tahiti - Situation & Climate Home James Morrison On Tahiti - Fruits
Revised May 29 2021
The Soil of the Country is rich and fertile, and in the Vallys & low land is a fine Black Mould, but near the Isthmus on both sides it is Coral & sand and rather Barren, producing little else but Fwharra (or Palm) Trees—the Hills Consist of several Strata of Red, White, Black Yellow & Blueish Collours—with several kinds of stones; the Red is a kind of Clay, and in it, is found a stone somthing like the Cornelian, that will strike fire, but is full of veins & Joints & will not stand a second stroke—the White is a kind of Pipe Clay without Stones, the Black a fine fat mold & the Yellow of a Gravelly Nature with large stones and the Blue is a Strong tough Loam, all of these are found in a Depth of ten or twelve feet from the Surface, and under that a soft sandy rock of a Brownish Collour intermixed with some that is hard & Black, there is also large Cliffs of a Black stone in the Mountains which runs in squares from two to Eight or ten inches, & several feet in length of which the Natives make their Adzes.
The Mountains are rocky to the Tops, but covered in most places with earth to a good depth and produce a Number of Large trees, the Clifts in the Mountains bear evident marks of having been burnt by fire, tho there is no account among the Natives that ever a Volcano subsisted here—in one place in the Mountains of Fwhassyeano a whole Hill appears to have been Overturned but the Natives say it was done by Thunder, but more probably by an Earthquake—the Beds of the Rivers are Gravel, and large stones part of which appear to have been washd from the Hills. Some are hard pebbles, others contain a Glassy substance and will melt in a hot fire, and many app[e]ar full of holes like the pummise stone but are heavyer.
The Vallys are fruitfull & run in some Miles, but far up the Mountains are Inaccessable being very steep & frequently drenchd with rain, and the only road to ascend the Mountains is from the sea side along the ridges by which rout those who Travel them must proceed.
The produce of these Islands in General are Hogs which are large and Plenty and their flesh excellent—Goats which are also Plenty & good food—Dogs which are here esteemd a Delicacy, and are allowed by former Voyagers to equal an English Lamb—these are all the quadrupeds which they esteem good Food; they have also Cats & Rats but eat neither—and what Black Cattle has been left there they hold in no esteem—Fowles are plenty and good, and if killd young are equal to those of Europe either for tast tenderness or Flavour; they have a number of Birds & fish which shall be described in their places.
Their Vegetable productions are Fruits & Roots of Diffirent Sorts and are these—
Yams, Calld here Oowhi—these Grow wild in the Mountains, and are from one to six feet in length but not more then five or Six inches round, they are very good but as they take Much trouble to dig them out they are seldom sought after, except when the Bread fruit is Scarce, they never take the Pains to Cultivate them.
Tarro, another Root which they Cultivate—these grow in Water and the Ground must be leveled for that purpose & bankd up to keep the Water Constantly on it—they Grow to 12 or 14 Inches long & as much round—& are little inferior to Yams the root when dressd is Mottled inside with Green blue & White—and the leaves make excellent greens having a tast somthing like our Asparagus; but if they are not sufficiently dressd they cause an Itching in the Fundament for several Hours after they are eaten.
Oomarra, a kind of sweet potatoe, diffirent from those of America or the West Indies—they are of an Orange Collour & somewhat near the size of those in England, and are plenty; they are produced by planting slips from the stalks, which taking root produce the Potatoes.
Yappe—these are large Mountain roots somthing in shape like the Tarro but much larger; they are also Coarser and more insipid, and if eaten without being properly dressd Cause a disagreeable Itching in the Mouth and throat which does not suddenly go off; to remedy this they are kept all night in the oven which takes away the Itching & biting quality.
Mapoora—this is a kind of small Tarro which Grows in the Mountains and is hot & biting but made eatable in the same manner as the Yappe—and with this they make past[e] for their Cloth. Dewe—this is another hot biting root like a large turnip radish which Grows in all parts of the Island and must be dressd in the same Manner.
Peea—this is a root resembling a Potatoe but is bitter to the tast and cannot be eaten till it has been grated down and steepd in Water, but it answers best for Paste by roasting & beating it up with a little water. The Method of preparing it for food is thus; they having gathered as many of the roots as they want, get a rough stone which they wash Clean & Grate the Peea into a trough filld with Clear Water, mixing it up and when it settles the water is pour'd off and more applyd for five or six days, when the Water is strained off and the Peea dryed for use it being then like fine Flour and makes excellent puddings or Pancakes. E'huoy is a kind of Fern Root growing in the Mountains only, it is good eating when dressd. Many other roots are found in the Mountains which are good food but seldom sought for, except bread is scarce.
Ginger & Turmeric grow in abundance all over the Islands as does also Tobacco, Sugar cane Indian Corn Pumpions Red-peppers &c.
On Tahiti - Situation & Climate Home James Morrison On Tahiti - Fruits