On Tahiti - Soil & Roots Home James Morrison On Tahiti - Birds & Fish
Revised May 29 2021
Among the Fruits the Bread fruit of which there are near thirty Sorts diservedly takes the lead—This Tree (calld by the Inhabitants Ooroo) Grows to the Size of an Oak, and affords Food, raiment, timber for Houses & Canoes, & pitch for their seams—The leaves also are of Use serving to wrap up their provisions when they dress them—the leaves are of different sizes some of them not more then 9 inches & others 2 feet long, they are broad and of as much substance as a Cabbage leaf, notchd on the edges with 4 or 5 notches of about 6 inches deep and the Collour a dark Green—it never sheds all its leaves and appears Constantly in bloom, as the Leaves which fall are forced off by Young ones making their way out— the Branches are large and spreading and on the ends of them the Fruit Grows, singly or in pairs, but seldom more—some of them are round, and others long and are from 3 to 6 inches Diameter; the fruit while unripe is a bright Green and rind is rough; as it ripens the rind becomes smoother and the Collour changes to a brownish with a Yellow tinge and appears spotted with White, from the Gum which forces its way through the rind and drys on it and the fruit is then fit for use, & if it stays but a few days on the tree after the Gum has made its appearance it Grows Mellow & falls, and the tast becomes sweet & is too luiscious to eat till it is mixed with some which has been made into Mahee, but if Gathered before it falls its Collour inside when baked is Yellowish and its Consistence like that of a Potatoe tho the Taste is not like any thing that I recollect in Europe, America or India, but it is nevertheless pleasant and agreeable, and tho when dressd it will not keep good more then two Days, yet it is so plenty as to answer evry purpose of Bread and is here the Staff of Life. The Method of making it into Mahee for store shall be described in its place.
The Heare or Cocoa Nut is the next Fruit and is a Very Serviceable tree; the Nuts when Young are excellent drink and when Old Make Oil, Sauce for fish puddings &c.—the Shells make Cups for eating and drinking—the Husk makes lasshings for their Canoes and with the leaves they make temporary huts, screens for their houses, baskets &c.—and the trunk when past bearing makes fuel, tho they stand many Years Good except they Chance to loose their top by lightning which they often do—more then any other trees—they are always Green & shed some of their leaves, or rather Branches evry Year, still Growing taller as they Grow older.
The Vee or Yellow Apple is fine Delicious fruit growing to the size of an English Apple but different in smell taste & Substance, the pulp being Contained in a stringy substance round the seed—it has a thin tough rind like a plumb and its Collour when ripe is a fine Gold, its Flavour superior to the Pine, and it has no bad quality tho eaten to excess. It Grows on a fine Statly tree which sheds its leaves regularly, the leaves begin to fall in September and by Christmas the Fruit & leaves appear, and the Fruit is full ripe in June. Some of these trees are 9 feet round, but the wood is soft & spungy & fit for no use but fuel it will either Grow from the Seed or by lopping of a Branch, which when stuck in the Ground takes root and soon bears fruit.
The Eheyya is another kind of an Apple, more like the English, but the taste is more watery & insipid, when ripe it is of a fine red & white, and the Tree is about the size of a Common Cherry tree; it sheds its leaves in the same Manner, but the fruit is not ripe till October—These two trees, & another bearing a red flower like a honysuccle, are the only Trees on the Island which shed all their leaves at one time or before any others appear.
The Rataa or Ihhe—is a kind of horse Chesnut in shape like a Broad Bean about 2 inches over; the Trees are large and serves for fuel &c.
The Shaddock, Calld here Ooroo Pappaa (or English Bread): these trees was planted here in Captain Cooks time but the Fruit has never arrived at any perfection, the trees have been planted in different parts of the Island by the Natives merely as curiositys.
The Mayya, which is the General Name of Plantains, Grows here in abundance and in the Highest perfection. The large Horse Plantain Calld here Papparrooa Grows to nine inches in length and as much round, and with Tarro & Cocoa Nuts Makes excellent Pudding.
The Oraya or Maiden Plantain is the best of all the small kinds of which these Islands produce twelve different sorts—not named here, but no Bannanas.
The Payee or Mountain Plantain is different from all the Others—and is Calld Mountain from its Growing Chiefly there. As I never saw any of them in the East or West Indies I suppose they are peculiar to these and the other Islands in the South Seas—the stalk or tree is of a Dark purple or Blackish Collour, the leaves much longer and the Collour Much darker then the Common Plantain and the fruit does not hang down but grows erect and Clustering thick round the stalk form a kind of Pyramid. If Gathered Green they make a substitute for Bread, and if Cut while raw they smell like a Cucumber—But when ripe they smell like Yellow Paint, and the Inside of them when bruised is something like it in Collour & Appearance—the Skin is then of a reddish Brown—when Baked & Made into a Pudding they are as Good as Custard the root also when dressd is equal to a Yam—as they Grow in Great Plenty in the Mountains they want no labour but that of Bringing home. Among their Forest trees are the following, with shrubbs plants &c.—
The Toa or Casurina a very hard wood with which they make their War Spears & Clubbs, Beetles for Making Cloth &c.—and with its Bark they make a fine Brown dye—this wood is too hard for any tools which we had, yet the Natives work it with Stone tools, but it Costs them a deal of labour.
Tamannoo or Calophyllum Mophylum is a very large spreading tree, which they use for Building the large Canoes, making Stools for Sitting on, Pillows and Pudding stools, with Dishes, & trays, some of which are Six feet long, intended to Hold a large Hog when Dressd; these are wrought out of the Solid and neatly finishd. The Wood being something like Walnut receives a fine Polish, and the Nut which Grows to the Size of a Walnut and as plenty, makes a very sweet perfume for their Cloaths. Marra is a large tree the wood of which is hard and white, and the Grain close; when it grows old the Collour Grows brown—this is Chiefly Used for Building the War Canoes, making Cloth Beams, Long Steering Paddles and makes Good Ax & Adze handles.
Fwhyfwhye—this Tree is as large as an Oak, and in Grain something like White Oak—it answers for several purposes—as building Canoes, making large Chests &c.
Amai—this is a hard Close Wood of a reddish Collour which they also used in Building their Canoes, making Ax & adze handles &c.—with this tree they Generally plant their Morai's or places of Worship, & the leaves of this tree are always used in religious rites. Tuoy—this is another large tree of which the Wood is White & hard, and used for Building both War & Common Canoes Planks for Scraping the Cloth plant on &c.
Poorow or Hibiscus Tiliacous is somewhat like Elm bearing a Yellow flower—the Body of the Tree serves for Building Canoes, making Paddles and we found it to answer very well for Timbers & Knees while building the Schooner. Some of the Young Shoots run Straight for a Good length and of them they Chiefly make the rafters of their Houses, Sprits for their Canoes, Bows &c.—and the Bark being Cleaned makes neat washing Mats, of a fine texture for wet weather—it also makes rope & line and we found it, of much use in making our rigging.
Eyto—this is another large tree the wood of a reddish Brown nearly as hard as Toa & answers several purposes in their Canoes, with the Bark they Dye or tan their Cloth, Nets & lines which tho only done by steeping in Cold water gives it a strong Collour which will not wash out and the Bark of the Toa has the same property.
Torrotaya—this is a hard Tough white Wood and is Used for Outriggers for their sailing Canoes, and being durable is preferd for the Purpose of railing their Houses.
Hootdoo—this is a large tree which answers the purpose of Building Canoes, but is not durable, it bears a Nut about the Size of a Sheeps heart of a Black Collour which has the Property when put into the Holes in the reef where the fish resort, to stupify them; so that they never attempt to escape but suffer themselves to be taken but it is not much used for either purpose.
Toodooe, or Candle Nut Tree, Grows to the Size of a Walnut tree, bearing a fruit exactly like a Walnut but of an Oily nature and if eaten Causes almost an immediate vomiting, but the Kernels after being roasted till the Shells come off make a Good Substitute for Candles by being Strung on the Stem of the Cocoa Nut leaf—burning with a strong blaze—the Bark of the root makes a fine light Brown dye and the trunk fuel.
Tow (or Cordia Sebestina Orientalis), the wood of this tree is soft & White, and of this they make Scoops for Bailing their Canoes—the Leaves Mixed with the Berries of the Mattde makes a beautiful red for Painting their Cloth.
Mattde is a species of Fig about the Size of a Common Cherry tree, the Figs or Berries are about the size of a small Cherry and are of a Brownish Collour and being Squeesed on the leaves of the Tow produce a fine Scarlet die. The Bark makes excellent fishing lines, twine for Nets, and a fine matting for sashes or Marro's—it also makes a good strong Cloth.
Nonno or Morinda citrifolia—this is a Small tree bearing a fruit like a small Soursop but not so pleasant to the tast and seldom eaten the Bark off the Root makes a fine light Yellow die for their Cloth.
Eawwa is a kind of Wild Fig, or Sloe tree of the Bark of which they make an excellent Grey Cloth, Calld Oraa, which is the most durable of any they have, and is therefore Highly esteem'd. Booa is a handsom tree Calld by Captain Byron the Barringtonia; it bears odouriferous flowers of a Yellowish hue, with which they make Garlands for their Heads, and The Teary a tree bearing White Flowers of a fine Smell answers the same purpose. Evyavye, or ye Silk Cotton tree, Grows in abundance all over the Country but is made no use of.
Roaa (Urtica Argenta) is a Shrub the Bark of which answers the purpose of hemp and is used for their Best lines & Fishing tackle—it Grows as high as hemp, and the leaves are not unlike each other.
Youte (Morus papyrifera) or the Chinese Paper Mulberry tree of which there are two sorts, Calld here Myeree and Poorow—of the Bark of these they make their finest white Cloth, and they Cultivate large plantations of it for that purpose; to these Plantations the Goats are distructive animals, eating the Bark off & spoiling the Young Plants & are not to be kept out by the Ditch & fence with which they are encompassed for this reason the Goats about the Plantations are either kept tyed fast or drove back into the hills where they run wild—as they are not esteemed of Great value. Ohhe or Bamboo grows here in abundance some of which are 60 feet long but their substance is not very strong—however they serve when Cut into lengths to hold Oil and for those who dwell far from the Beach to carry their Salt Water in which serves evry purpose of Salt in this Country—it also serves for making Fences, Fishing rods, knives &c.—and of a small hard sort they make their Arrows while the large makes quivers.
Aeeho or Reeds—these Grow in abundance on the Hills and are servicable for many Uses, as fixing the thatch on for their Houses, making Fences, and for Burning at Night when Fishing, and they frequently burn them to Clear the Ground of them. Oporro, or the Chili Pepers, were planted here in Captain Cooks time, and with the Tobbacco may now be found in all the Islands being carried about as Curiosities.
Eowtay—this is a Shrub about the size of a rose tree bearing a red flower with which they dress their Heads, it is also used by them as a Medicine for Sore Eyes, which is common Fwharra, or Prickly Palm, Calld in India Pandanes, Grows here in abundance generally near the Beach in Barren Ground; the roots of the tree grow above Ground, and support it like shores standing round to the heigth of 5 or 6 feet. The Outside of the tree is hard & with it they point their Javlins, but the Inside is soft spungey & fiberus—the Leaves Grow in a Special manner round the Branches and are about 6 feet long and 4 inches Wide with long prickles on their edges & Center—with these they make their Thatch by sewing the leaves on reeds—they also make mats for their Sails & for performing their Heivas or Dances on some of which are of a large size—the Blossom is a large Bunch of Flowers of a Buff Collour yeilding a Fragrant Smell. With this they Scent their Oil & Cloth—the Seed is Composed of a number of nuts which grow upon a round Core and have the Appearance when ripe of a Pine Apple—their tast is sweet & pleasant, and they are frequently put into the Earth with Plantains when they are put to ripen to give them a fine Flavour.
Paapa—this is a kind of Palmeto the leaves something like the Fwharra but without Prickles, and of this they make their matts for Sleeping on and for wear in Wet weather; this grows Chiefly in the Mountains and here also is found the Ohi or Sandal Wood which has a Smell like Cedar and with this they Scent their Oil &c.
Hooerro Toomoo or Cabbage Tree Grows also in the Mountains, but are small & not very Plenty—they seldom exceed 30 feet in height—the Bark is rough & hard pointing over like Scales from the Earth to the top of the tree where the Cabbage Grows singly, and the leaves or branches look like fern forming a Circle Horizontally—they seldom eat the Cabbages as it is some trouble to get them.
Pirreepirree is a small shrub growing to the Size of Heath, and with the bark they make a very fine Matting for Sashes or Marros. Eayeeay is a kind of running shrub or vine of which they make Fish pots, & other Wickerwork and it is used in the Construction of their Houses, answering better then line for securing those parts that are exposed to the weather.
Toe or Sugar Cane Grows here without Cultivation to as large a size as any in the East or West Indies, and I make no doubt but if Cultivated would be much larger; the Natives make no use of it except to Chew as they pass where it Grows and when it becomes too thick, they Clear the Ground by Setting it on fire.
Toepappaa or Indian Corn was first Introduced by the Bounty—and is now to be found in all the Islands—it Grows here luxuriantly and We have produced three Crops from the same seed and a fourth well on in a twelve month—it may be produced in any of the Islands with little trouble as the Soil of the Whole is in general good from the Beach to the top of the Mountains, but the Natives tho they are fond of it never take the pains to Cultivate it in any quantity; alledgeing that they have plenty of Food, and it is therefore no use to labour for what Nature has abundantly Supply'd them—and Such is their Oppinion respecting evry other Article of Food introduced amongst them by European Ships which are either distroyd by Shifting from place to place as Curiositys, or suffered to run wild for want of being Cultivated and taken Care of. Some of the Cobbs of Corn which we produced were 12 inches long and well filld.
They have several sweet herbs for scenting their Oil & Cloth—and a kind of Cresses which makes excellent sallad are to be found in all parts of the Country, all the English Garden seeds planted on our first arrival were nearly gone to decay, and destroyd as before described tho with care they might be had in tolerable perfection.
Yava, or Intoxicating peper, is Cultivated here with much Care and pains; with the root of this, they Intoxicate themselves. They always drink it before they eat and it is prepared thus—several hands have each a proportion of the root given them to Chew which when they have done sufficiently they spit it into a large Platter; Some of the leaves are then Infused and Squesed to pieces in it, and in the mean time another prepares a Strainer from the Stems of Coarse Grass Calld Mo'oo, something like hemp, and the whole being well mixed is wrung through the Strainer and the leaves & Chewings thrown away—and the Juice is then devided according to the Number who are to drink it, by dipping the Strainer into the Platter and wringing into each mans Cup his Share—they now drink their dose which as it is of a tolerable thick Consistency and smells somthing like a Mixture of Rhubard & Jalap can be little better to take—almost Imediately deprives them of the use of their limbs & Speech, but does not toutch the Mental Faculty and they appear in a thoughtful mood and frequently fall backwards before they have finishd eating, some of their attendants then attend to Chafe their limbs all over till they fall asleep, and the rest retire and no noise is suffered to be made near them—after a few hours they are as fresh as if nothing had happend and are ready for another dose—a Jill of this Juice is a Sufficient dose, but if they eat any thing immediately before it, it has no effect.
After about a fortnights Constant use the Skin comes all over with a white scurf like the land scurvy and the Eyes grow red & firey and the Body lean and Meagre but on being left off for a few days the Scales fall off the Skin then becomes clear & smooth and they soon grow fat & wholsom to view—this gives me reason to think that this nausious draught must be very wholesom as those who use it are Seldom afflicted with disorders of any kind and those who use it regularly are some of the oldest men in the Country—It is Common to all but is more used by the Chiefs & their Familys, Servants &c than by the common people. They prefer the method of Chewing it to any Other—it is in much request among people of rank but even some of them never tast it.
Tee is a plant Growing in the Mountains the root of which is sweet and this they roast & eat the leaves are about 14 or 16 inches long and 5 or 6 wide and serve for thatching temporary huts, lining their pits for Mahee & makes a temporary Garment for Fishing in &c by platting all the stems together to reach round the Waist, and Splitting the leaves which depend to the knees.
All these Grow in the lowlands but the largest timber Grows far back in the Mountains—the Bread fruit is to be had at all seasons, but it is most plenty at the Harvest, when they Gather it in and lay it up in store making it into a sour past by fermentation Calld Mahee which shall be discribed in its place—the Cocoa Nuts, plantains & almost evry sort of Food are plenty at all seasons alike. Their Cultivation does not extend to any great degree; the Chief Articles of it are the Cloth Plant, Yava, Tarro & Sweet potatoes and some times they plant Cocoa Nuts & Plantains but these plantations are generally the labour of the Chiefs and if they make one in their lifetimes they sufficiently do their duty—they seldom plant any Breadfruit trees as they grow up wherever the root is Seperated, by the Hogs or otherwise and they have often to root the young ones out, to Clear the ground of them, but the Plantains want Planting sometimes after the Westerly winds which if they are not secured are often blown down and these are the only things they take any pains with, nor can this be said to Cost them either Labour or Toil and as evry part of the Island produces food without the help of Man, it may of this Country be said that the Curse of Eden has not reachd it, no man having his bread to get by the Sweat of his Brow nor has he Thorns in his path.
On Tahiti - Soil & Roots Home James Morrison On Tahiti - Birds & Fish