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A BOTANICAL TOUR AMONG THE SOUTH SEA ISLANDS. 127
culture of tlie first-mentioned vegetable. He generally chooses a spot in the
flat or sometimes upon a gradual slope. Holes are dug with pointed sticks to
some fire or six feet in diameter, three feet apart, and about the same depth.
The soil is pulverized and thrown back into the hole ; some more soil is pul-
verized iu the same way, thrown on top, and built up in the form of a cone to
about three feet six inches, and is smoothly patted over with the hands. A
small shoot is then cut off a Yam and inserted in the top of this pyramid
about three inches. The result is, in five months afterwards, a Yam five feet
or more in length, and in weight often from 20 to 25 lbs. The Taro, too,
seems to be more extensively cultivated in the Fijis than in any of the other
islands. The species most used is the aqviatic, but the water of the swamps
and marshes in which they cultivate it is seldom used. The dry-growing
species is said to be less wholesome, and is always to be found upon the moun-
tain sides, where in cultivated patches it helps to make an interesting picture
when margined round with plantations of Banana, over which may often be
seen waving to and fro the graceful frouds of a Palm or of a Tree-fern. Taro
tops boiled are an excellent substitute for Spinach, and to my taste are far
more delicious.
I have met with JiJxcoecaria Agallocha (" Sinu gaga," or poison sinu of the
rijians) at New Caledonia and the New Hebrides, but it is moi-e common in
the Fijis. I have seldom seen it growing to more than twenty feet ; it occurs
close to the shore, and is seldom seen inland. The smoke of its decayed wood
and green leaves is said to be a certain cure for leprosy, a disease which is
very prevalent throughout Polynesia. The dense habit and compact form of
this tree render it a pleasing object. Ipomcea maritima will occasionally be
met with iu patclies matting down the sandy beach to the water's edge. In
the island of Lathoba, which is near to the mouth of the Eewa, I met with
great quantities of this plant, as also of Acroslichum aureum and Clerodendron
inerme, wliich have spread over many acres. Two species of RMzopliora (I\Iau-
grove) margin the coast for miles ui many parts of Fiji, and particularly near
to the Eewa river.
III..
After leaving the Fijis, we visited the New Hebrides, of which group we
called at Aueitum, Eromanga, Tana, and Vate or Sandwich Island. On en-
tering the harbom' of Aneitum, you see several clear green spaces upon the
hills, which liave the appeai-ance of beautiful lawns, surrounded by a mass of
rich foliage. On the whole, the scenery of the New Hebrides is less striking
than that of the other groups we visited. The island of Vate, however, should
perhaps claim some special mention. To give Aneitum and Tana their due
(I cannot say much for Ei'omanga, as we were tliere only a few hours), it must
be admitted that the variety of plants is something marvellous. The variegated
fohage at every few paces, of the richest tints imaginable, striped and
spotted with all the most glowing and briUiant colours, Croton, Bracxna,
Acalypha, Uranthemum, Graptophi/llum, Fandanus, Hibiscus, Anectochilas,
and I coidd enumerate a score of other plants, also variegated,—call upon the
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