FOOTNOTES
[1] See Appendix A, at the end of the volume.
[2] One of the merchants, a Moorman, named Mahomet Monsour, engaged, if a ship was brought next season to Sawang, (a village further to the eastward) to deliver on board six thousand peculs of the Areka-nut in the space of eight days.
[3] Pungarang is the title of prince.
[4] I understand that no arms or warlike stores are permitted to be exported for Penang, or any other of our settlements for this coast; if the Acheenese king requires any, he sends a requisition to the government of Penang, who supplies him at fifteen per cent. above the cost price, to cover the expenses of freight, &c.
[5] Most of the country vessels that visit the coast have native supercargoes, as they effect much better bargains with the native merchants upon the coast than Europeans.
[6] I have before stated, that the heat generated by a cargo of the Areka-nut is excessive. I recollect the carpenter of a ship, when desirous of bending some wood, placing it under the main hatch, among the nuts; in a few minutes it was sufficiently steamed for its intended purpose; after a fortnight or three weeks the heat is materially moderated.
[7] A number of vessels from Penang come for the nut at this season, to take it to that settlement in time for the Indiamen, who purchase it for the China market.
[8] Abel’s China, 4to. p. 59.
[9] Abel’s China, 4to. pp. 60, 61.
[10] The definition of this harbour in the Chinese language is as follows:—
| Kum, | Sing, | Moon, |
| Gold, | Star, | Gate. |
“Gold Star” among the Chinese is the planet Mars, so that this place is named Margate.
[11] White porpoises, slightly tinged with pink, are frequently seen tumbling about in the “moons” and sea in the vicinity.
[12] At one time, during a rebellion in China, the emperor’s troops lost courage, (which to us must appear a wonderful event among Chinese,) and would not proceed against the rebels: this called forth from the emperor the following public rebuke:—“The emperor rebukes very sharply all the governors of the Chih-sang provinces, from which authority emanates, on account of their negligence in attending to the state of the military under their jurisdiction. He makes particular mention of the prevalent use of opium among the Canton military, and of the misconduct of the Ho, nan troops on their road to Fuh, keen.”—Canton Register, No. 13, 14, 16th Sept 1833.
[13] No individuals, except Portuguese, or naturalized Portuguese, are permitted to be owners of houses at Macao.
[14] The name Kaki is said to be Japanese; this fruit is not so named by the Chinese.
[15] I had models of the two kinds just mentioned, executed with great accuracy by a Chinese. The imitations of the fruit were modelled from clay, and accurately coloured afterwards according to nature.
[16] It is curious that Linnæus, by bestowing upon this bird the specific name of Apoda, or without feet, should have credited the assertion that it was so.
[17] Made from the milky juice yielded by the trunk of the Sukun, or bread-fruit tree.
[18] Forrest’s Voyage to New Guinea, &c., pp. 134-137.
[19] It has been stated, that during flight they cry like starlings.
[20] Pigafetta says, in his relation of Magellan’s voyage round the world, that in the island of Bachian, (one of the Molucca islands,) a species of bird, of exquisite beauty, was found, which the natives called “the bird of God,” saying it came from Paradise.
[21] Kai usually expresses any birds of the gallinaceous tribe.
[22] In the common Canton dialect, Kum signifies gold; but in the Mandarin dialect, Kin is the name for gold; so that this bird is named both Kum, kai, and Kin, kai.
[23] The brilliancy of the Chinese colours for painting, &c. has often been very highly extolled as being superior to the European. What surprise must it create, then, when we are informed that the colours used are of English manufacture, and the Chinese artists are eager for, and anxiously inquire after, them. This reminds me of the gross ignorance frequently displayed by our countrymen in foreign countries,—purchasing English articles abroad at a high price as foreign manufacture, and as unattainable in their native land. It was mentioned as a fact, that a person purchased an elegant London clock in a shop at Canton, at a high price, to take to England as a specimen of China manufacture. Do not we see these follies committed by our countrymen almost every day at Paris?
[24] In Griffiths’ Animal Kingdom, vol. viii. p. 275. Aves, this bird is mentioned as being “distinguished by its brilliant plumage; but it wants the elegant shape which distinguishes the true Columbæ. It remains by preference generally on the ground. It runs with great celerity, and constructs its nest like a partridge. It never perches, except to pass the night. Its cooing is hoarse and dull.”
[25] Sweet potatoes are recommended as a good sea-stock for the purpose of feeding pigeons, birds of paradise, parrots, &c., as a variety of food on board a ship, as those birds often require fruit as a change of diet, which it is found impossible to keep on board during a long voyage; this root, therefore, given to them, either in a raw or boiled state, perfectly serves as a substitute.
[26] Mr. Beale assured me that for four years he has been endeavouring to get specimens of this shrub to England, but as yet without success, they having all perished on the passage.
[27] There were also some splendid large varieties of the Hibiscus rosa chinensis, of different tints; and the beautiful Hibiscus mutabilis changes its blossoms, after their expansion, from a white to a beautiful rose colour. The celebrated Mou-tan, or Peony, of China, I was told was merely a very large and splendid variety of the Hibiscus rosa chinensis.
[28] Besides the unequalled living collection of birds, &c., in the possession of this gentleman, his portfolios are stocked with a large and valuable collection of beautiful and correct drawings by Chinese artists, from nature, of birds, fish, plants, &c. indigenous to China and the eastern islands.
[29] The specimen to which I allude is named by the Spaniards Triste de Corazon, or Sorrow of the Heart; when dried and kept in that state for any length of time, and afterwards placed in water, (even after several years have elapsed,) its foliage expands, and reassumes a partial verdant appearance.
[30] Abel’s China, 4to. pp. 121, 122.
[31] I have several specimens of the pith, and one specimen I saw, nearly an inch in diameter, was hollow in the centre.
[32] Mr. Beale is making great efforts to procure both seeds and young plants, of the above-mentioned plants, and there is some expectation of success.
[33] Chu, signifying pig; long, basket; and tzo, grass.
[34] We passed close to Tiger Island, with its lofty and rounded summits of hills. There is a heavily-mounted stone fort upon this island, but not in a commanding situation. There is no appearance of cultivation upon the island; but it is verdant from a quantity of fern-brake and numerous stunted shrubs, &c. scattered about, which serve to give some animation to it.
[35] Several pagodas are seen erected upon elevated situations at certain distances up the river to Canton, and even beyond. Looking from the terrace of the Honourable East India Company’s factory, it was observed, that they formed a line of watch-towers, and signals of lights from them could pass with rapidity from one to the other, forming excellent means of telegraphic communication, and, from their extending at certain distances up the river as far as the eye could reach, they are no doubt intended for that purpose.
[36] Named Old and New China Streets.
[37] There is another place much frequented by European visitors, called “Carpenter Square,” which is confined for the most part to upholsterers, trunkmakers, &c. Here the camphor wood trunks are purchased, the majority of which, sold to strangers as such, are merely made from common wood, rubbed over with camphorated oil.
[38] If larger, but not rotten, in the heart, and also of good quality, it will be cut into pieces of the above-mentioned size, and rounded.
[39] The sandal-wood brought from the Bonin Islands, I am informed, is of a very excellent quality.
[40] The wood is frequently buried, and the sap allowed to rot off; and this is considered to improve its quality.
[41] See Notices concerning China, published at Malacca in 1823, p. 10.
[42] It was in the rooms of the chief priest at this temple that Lord Amherst’s embassy was lodged.
[43] The situation of this temple is near the inner harbour of Macao, and of a romantic and highly beautiful character. An image of a lion decorates each side of the granite steps, carved out of the same kind of stone, having a ball carved in their mouths, every attempt to take out, which is found to be in vain, puzzling many; (like the curious and elegant ivory balls, carved one within the other;) there are also several groups of figures beautifully carved in granite in basso relievo. On entering, neat winding, and tastefully-executed granite steps, lead from little temples to other recesses for idol worship, amongst natural groups of granite rocks, piled one upon the other, as if by the fabled giants of old during their warfare; huge trees, bending in various fantastic forms, overhang the temples, and cast a silence and gloom over this place devoted to pagan worship,—a place, however, well calculated to produce awe in the human mind, and to bind either still closer the fetters of bigotry, or, if it had been selected as the place of a truer worship, to cause the mind in this retired spot to commune more closely with its Creator. This spot, so beautiful, so delightful to behold, would form an elegant and valuable embellishment for one of our English annuals. I saw an accurate and delightful sketch of this religious spot taken by Chinnery, and a painting, half-finished, from that sketch, which even in that state reminded me of the original. I hope that talented artist will complete and send it home, so that an engraving may recall it to the memory of those who have seen, but may be now remote from its beauties.
[44] In September 1833, the floods of the river were so great, as to cause a considerable loss of lives and property. All business at Canton was transacted in boats, and the poorer class of people suffered much distress through a great part of China in consequence.
[45] “The Lappa, in Chinese, Tuy, meen, shan, is a small island opposite to Macao, forming the western side of the inner harbour. It affords room for a pleasant variety in walk and scene occasionally.”—Morrisons Comp. to Angl. Chin. Kalendar, 1832.
[46] Shan signifies hill; and tchong the pine tree.
[47] So named by the Portuguese, after a picturesque spot of the same name, near the city of Lisbon.
[48] This island is of an elliptical form, and is said to be about twenty-seven miles in its greatest length, and containing an estimated area of about two hundred and seventy square miles. The latitude of Singapore flag-staff is in 1° 17′ 22″ north, and longitude 103° 51′ 45″ east.
Singapoor is derived from Sing-gah, signifying to call or touch at, bait, stop by the way, and Poor, a village, (generally fortified,) a town, &c. (Marsden’s Malay Dictionary.) It is considered at this island, or rather at this part of the island where the town is now situated, (the name, however, has been given by Europeans to the whole island,) there was formerly a village, inhabited principally by fishermen. The Malays, who traded from the eastward to Malacca, and other of the ports to the westward, touched at this place. Singa also signifies a lion, (known by name only in the Malay countries,) from which the name of the island has been (no doubt erroneously) supposed to be derived.
[49] Kampong Glam, near Singapore, has its name derived, it is said, from Kampong, signifying a village, and Glam, the name of a particular kind of tree.
[50] Crawford’s Embassy to Siam and Cochin China, 4to. pp. 565 to 567.
[51] Blackan Mattee is derived from the Malay word “Blackan,” behind; and Mattee, dead or lost: it was supposed to be so named, because the hill, when this place was resorted to by pirates, concealed them from the view of the settlement or village—the present town. The explanation, however, of the name is not very satisfactory.
[52] The sugar-cane is cultivated to a very limited extent, and the canes I inspected were of very fine size and quality; they are only used, however, for edible purposes, no sugar being as yet manufactured from them.
[53] When the barking noise was made, the lips were pursed out, and the air driven into the sac, at the same time that the sound was uttered, the lower jaw was also a little protruded.
[54] The account of the orang-utan, given by Dr. Abel, in the Narrative of a Journey in the Interior of China, accords with the habits of this animal, and the comparison is very interesting.
[55] “Hanno sailed from Sierra Leone southerly to the equinox, where he discovered an island, not far from the African coast, inhabited by a rough and hairy people, to take one of whom, he used all possible means, but could not: only two women, being encompassed by soldiers, were taken and carried aboard; but being very savage, and barbarously wild, could not be tamed, or brought to any complacency; so they killed them, and carried their stuffed-up skins to Carthage, where they were a long time gazed upon with great admiration. This island, which Hanno then found, can be no other but that which we call St. Thomas; and the hairy people which he makes mention of were babeons, or baboons, which Africa, in this place, breeds large, to the amazement of the beholders.”—Ogilby’s America, p. 20.
[56] I have heard that the natives of Terra del Fuego, who were lately brought to England, when they arrived in the hot latitudes, would lie down and roll about the decks of the ship which conveyed them from their native land, exclaiming, “Why they had been brought into this fiery country?”
[57] The ape and monkey tribe, although approaching so near the human race in external appearance, as well as in its omnivorous habits of diet, still differs materially in not being able to sustain a change of climate; nor is it readily inured to a cold climate, if a native of the tropical regions.
[58] The lungs in the orang-utan are entire on each side, and not divided into lobes. See my friend Mr. Owen’s Dissection of the Orang-utan, in No. I. of the Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London.
[59] A portion of the ulcerated intestine has been deposited in the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons in London.
[60] The larynx and appendages have been deposited in the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons in London.
[61] Lyell’s Principles of Geology, vol. ii. p. 15.
[62] The other Camphor-trees are principally of the genus Laurus.
[63] See my observations on the Kayu-puteh-oil, vol. i. p. 166.
[64] Ladies visiting their friends on the opposite side of the creek are obliged to stop the carriage on one side of the bridge and walk across, at the risk of deranging their curls by the breezes, or injuring the fairness of their complexions by the fervent rays of a tropical sun. And besides, they must have a conveyance in waiting on the opposite side to take them to the place they may be desirous of visiting. When so much—in splendid mansions and other improvements to the settlement—has been done by private merchants, it is to be regretted that a new bridge for the convenience of the settlement has been so long deferred by the government.
[65] The Gambir extract has been sent to England to be tried as a mordant for dying, or to be used in the tanning of leather, the extract having been found to contain a very large proportion of tannin. I know not what may have been the result of the experiment.
[66] There are some, but very few pepper plantations upon the island, without a Gambir boiling-house being near them; but although those without the benefit of having the boiled Gambir-leaves strewed over the soil, look well, still the planters say, that the pepper produced by the vines, is neither prolific, nor of so fine a quality.
[67] As, on a former occasion, I had some doubt whether the shrub was monoecious or dioecious, I took another opportunity of making my examinations; the result of which was, that although a great many of the shrubs had male and female flowers on separate trees, yet a few had both male and female on the same tree.
[68] One Chinese proprietor of a Gambir manufactory said, he could make half a pecul of the extract daily. The baskets for packing the Gambir when ready for sale, are made from a common kind of rattan, found in the jungle.
[69] Since the above was in the hands of the printer, I understand that the Calcutta government have taken into consideration the subject of quit-rents, and that more judicious regulations have been instituted; so it may be hoped that the rising prosperity of the settlement will no longer be impeded.
[70] The Malays at Singapore, in the employ of Europeans, often use the flowers of this shrub for cleansing shoes, by rubbing them with the petals of the flowers, which contain a quantity of purplish black astringent juice. After rubbing them over the shoes, they polish the latter by aid of a brush; it certainly prevents the white dresses, usually worn in eastern climates, from being sullied by the shoes, which often happens when blacking has been used; this is probably the cause of its being called the shoe-flower by Europeans.
[71] Rumphius says that the natives of Amboyna were unwilling to bring him specimens of the plants from the mountains, from the full persuasion, that if the appendages were gathered and emptied of water, heavy rain would overtake them before their return. In conformity with the same belief, when suffering from a long drought, they pour the water from all the appendages they can find, satisfied that the ceremony will be followed by a change of weather. Such belief is curiously contrasted with their notions of the medicinal properties of the water contained in them, which they believe an infallible specific for incontinence of urine.—Rumph. cit. in Abel’s China, pp. 340, 341.
[72] “At Amboyna,” says Labillardiere, “the natives contrive to procure threads from the bastard aloe, called Agave vivipara: the master of the house went and cut a branch of this plant, and resting it on its thigh in order to scrape it with his large knife, and take off its pulp, he obtained from it a fascicle of threads as long as the leaf, and as strong as those of our best hemp.”
[73] From the expense attending labour, as well as its scarcity in this settlement, the pine-apple fibre could not be prepared at present under thirty-eight or forty dollars the pecul; but in Penang, or other places, where labour is cheap, and, as in the preparation of this article, women and children may be employed, the expense attending it would hardly exceed ten dollars per pecul.
[74] Situated at Teluk-ayer, (teluk, bay; and ayer, water).
[75] There is a very coarse granulated sago in large grains, and of a dirty greyish colour, which is imported by the native boats from Borneo, and is used at this settlement during a scarcity of rice by the poorer class of people.
[76] In the list of imports published in the Singapore Chronicle, the raw sago is usually designated as sago tamping, (tamping signifying a package, from the raw sago, being always imported wrapt in the leaves of the Pandanus tree;) it is imported in this country by fleets of ten boats, or even more, having to the amount of twenty thousand tampings or packages on board; the packages vary in weight, some weighing more and some less to the pecul.
[77] “In the language of the western countries of the Archipelago, the tree is named according to the idiom of the pronunciation of the people, Mangkudu, Bangkudu, or Wangkudu; the three initial consonants in these cases being commutable and very arbitrarily used.”—Crawford’s Indian Archipelago.
[78] Sandal-wood oil is also regarded as a never-failing specific for this very troublesome eruptive disease.—I am inclined to consider that more efficacy is stated to be possessed by the Cassia alata than can be justified by actual experience, with regard to the ring-worm; for I have, since writing the above, been informed that it had often been tried upon cases at Singapore for nearly a month, without any decidedly good effect resulting from its use, although the disease had been evidently mitigated by its application: it might certainly be more efficacious if used simply bruised, without the addition of lime-juice and salt, which latter is the mode of application adopted; but the addition of the latter articles is regarded as tending to increase its efficacy in the disease.
[79] Forrest’s New Guinea, p. 74. 4to. 1780.
[80] At noon of the day the bird died, we were in lat. 22° 58′ south, long. 67° 0′ east.
[81] I have preserved the whole of the alimentary canal from the œsophagus to the rectum, (including the distended gizzard left unopened,) in an entire state in spirits. The liver, ovaries, and trachea, I have also preserved in a similar manner, and presented to the Royal College of Surgeons, in London.
[82] Some of the fir-trees in the plantations we passed had a very peculiar appearance, from the trunk and branches being covered by a dark-red lichen, which gave them the appearance of being painted.
[83] As the willows require much moisture, they are carefully watered every morning and evening by the soldier who attends and has charge of the place.
[84] Which is at present occupied by the governor, the former residence, Plantation-house, being found in a very unhealthy situation.
[85] After the revolution at Paris, in 1830, and the tri-coloured banner had again waved over the towers of France, when the first French ship arrived at St. Helena, with that revolutionary standard at her gaff, her commander and crew visiting the tomb, placed a tri-coloured cockade upon it, glorying in “restoring to him his colours, under which he had so often led the French nation to victory, and which ensign was again the emblem of liberty to France.”
[86] The want of rain for the plantations appears to be much needed; but next month heavy rain is expected to fall.
[87] A large gannet was seen flying about the ship on the afternoon of the previous day, indicating a near approach to land: we were at that time about ninety miles distant from the island.
[88] Three lazy frigate-birds, too indolent to fish for themselves, were seen, pursuing an unfortunate sea-swallow, which had probably succeeded in capturing a fish. It is usual for these birds to pursue the gannets, and others, when returning from their fishing excursions, compelling them to disgorge their fish.
[89] Blumenbach’s Comparative Anatomy, by Lawrence and Coulson, page 76.
[90] The shark is more wary of taking the bait when unaccompanied by the pilot-fish; it will then approach, and retire, several times before it ventures to seize it; but when the little pilot is in company it will first approach the bait, (the shark waiting at some distance,) and return, as if to report; when the shark advances and seizes the bait without hesitation: this I have remarked in numerous instances.
[91] Being at first stationary, and of a dark colour, a ship passing it rapidly might have considered it as one, and reported accordingly, and such a circumstance has no doubt caused many rocks to be laid down in the charts which have actually no existence.
[92] In one of the fabulous legends of the natives of the Island of Tahiti, their island is represented “as having been a shark, originally from Raitea. Matarafau, in the east, was the head; and a place near Faaa, on the west, was the tail; the large lake Vaihiria was the ventricles or gills; while the lofty Orehena, the highest mountain in the island, probably six or seven thousand feet above the sea, was regarded as its dorsal fin; and its ventral fin was Matavai.”—Ellis’s Polynesian Researches, vol. i. page 167.
[93] I am informed by Mr. William Holderness, that in the month of October, 1828, when on a voyage from Guayaquil and Lima, in the brig Bolivar, E. Bransfield, R. N., commander, having heard rumours of war in Europe, they touched at Pernambuco, to ascertain its correctness, and left the next day, carrying the south-east trade to about 12° north latitude. After a few days calm, they got fine breezes from south-west, which carried them across the usual limits of the north-east trade, and then had nothing but light north-east winds until they reached Gibraltar.
[94] Greville’s Algæ Britannicæ, 8vo.—The figure of the Sargassum vulgare in this work is coloured far too dark, and does not seem to have been done from a recent specimen.
[95] The generic name is derived from Sargaço, or Sargazo, the Spanish name for the masses of sea-weed found floating on the surface of the ocean.
[96] Greville’s Algæ Britannicæ, 8vo. 1830. Introd. p. xii.
[97] Osbeck mentions, that, if prepared with vinegar, it furnishes an excellent pickle; and Rumphius, according to Mr. Turner, relates, that, in the East, salads are made of it, as well as other Algæ. It is also eaten in Chili.—Greville’s Algæ Britannicæ, 8vo. 1830, p. 2.
[98] Vide Labillardiere’s Voyages, vol. i. p. 334.
[99] The fronds of the palms every year throw off those of the year preceding, and it is the bases of the old fronds that form the rough bark.
[100] Lindley’s Nat. Syst. of Botany.
[101] Artocarpus integrifolia, Linn.
[102] Caryota urens.
[103] Generally of Bignonia indica, Tabernæmontana, Jasminum odoratum, and zeylanicum and luteum; Polyanthes tuberosa, Nyctanthes arbor tristis, Michelia champaca, Nerium odoratissimum, Mimosa arabica, and Lawsonia inermis.
[104] In worship of Budhoo, and acknowledgment of his being the Omniscient.
[105] A liberty is here taken with the tradition, blue and green being synonymous in Singalese, (Nil-pata.)
[106] Supposed to be derived from a Tamul word, bodhi, which signifies wisdom. The present object of Singalese worship is the fourth Budhoo, called Goutama Budha Arkabandoo, or descendant from the sun.
[107] Considered by many learned Indians an incarnation of Vishnu, and his religion to be founded on that of Brahma.
[108] Brahmata-Brahma, a name of Budhoo.
[109] Anadewara, also a name of Budhoo.
[110] Native drums; of which there are four kinds, generally made of jack-wood, and covered with deer-skin, from which the hair has been previously removed. It is laid on in a wet state, and dried in the sun.
[111] The Singalese language has no signification for brown, reddish, orange-coloured, scarlet, or pink, which are all expressed by the monosyllable “rat,” red.
[112] “Samanta-chacksa,” covered with eyes.
[113] The green cocoa-nut, called in Singalese, Koroomba.
[114] Probably the Manis, commonly called Negombo Devil.
[115] “Kandi,” high, lofty, mountainous.
[116] The Cocos is a name said to be taken from the Portuguese coco, or coquin, the three holes at the end of the cocoa-nut shell, giving it some resemblance to a monkey’s head.
[117] This palm is rarely, or never, seen growing straight; it has usually, when full, or nearly full, grown, an inclination in one direction or another.
[118] “The cocoa-nut tree, on the sea-shore, is certainly larger and more productive than in the interior of Ceylon. In the former situation it frequently grows to the height of one hundred feet. Its flourishing most in this situation, and close to the dwellings of the natives, is probably connected with the circumstance, that its leaves, in a healthy state, contain a very large portion of saline matter. The Singalese are well aware of this: the washermen burn its leaves for the sake of its alkaline ashes; and it is a common practice, in planting a cocoa-nut, to put a little salt into the pit.”—Davy’s Ceylon, 4to. p. 355.
[119] The natives of Tonga give the cocoa-nut, when in the act of germinating, the same appellation as the brain—“Uto.”
[120] A ludicrous mistake, I recollect, once occurred respecting this word in one of the missionary letters sent to England; it was mentioned that they preached to the natives in topes of cocoa-nut trees: this, when it appeared in one of the missionary journals, was printed thus:—“they preached to the natives on tops of cocoa-nut trees!!”
[121] The midribs of the leaves, tied together, form good brooms for the decks of ships.
Formerly it was not unusual for the Tahitan females to produce abortion, by using a midrib of the cocoa-nut leaflets as an instrument for the purpose; but this crime is now, I am happy to say, very rare indeed, if practised at all, in the present state of that splendid island.
[122] Baula, branches of cocoa-nut tree plaited, with which the houses are thatched; they will last two or three years. The matting for the floors, of similar plaited fronds, is called Takapau, or rather a coarse kind of matting made from the young leaves, only used for covering the floors of the houses; and the screens Tatau, at Tonga Islands.
[123] Ellis, vol. i. p. 52.
[124] The Singalese used the white young leaves in forming ornaments, in a tasteful and elegant manner peculiar to themselves, on the occasion of any festival, decorating arches, &c., in various picturesque forms of crowns, flowers, &c. &c.
[125] Papalangi was applied to any thing foreign; we were Papalangis; our cloth was Gnatoo papalangi; our rum Kava papalangi, &c.
[126] There is a kind of seam along the centre, exactly under the stem of the leaf, from both sides of which long and tough fibres, about the size of a bristle, regularly diverge in an oblique direction; sometimes there appear to be two layers of fibres, which cross each other, and the whole is cemented with a still finer, fibrous, and adhesive substance. The length and evenness of the threads, or fibres, the regular manner in which they cross each other at oblique angles, the extent of surface, and the thickness of the piece, corresponding with that of coarse cotton cloth, the singular manner in which the fibres are attached to each other, cause this curious substance, woven in the loom of nature, to present to the eye a remarkable resemblance to cloth spun and woven by human ingenuity.—Ellis, vol. i. p. 53.
[127] This substance is also used for small bags.
[128] Lime prepared from burnt shells and coral.
[129] The shell of the Oua, or young cocoa-nut, is said to be used medicinally by the Tahitans.
[130] Mission to Siam, page 290.
[131] The palm wine of Africa is procured in a similar manner, but I believe from other species of palms.
[132] Formerly the toddy was supposed to be the sap of the tree drawn from the branches. “The wine issues from the top of the tree, and is procured thus:—They cut a branch, binding it hard, and hang an earthen pot under the cut end, which they empty every morning and evening.”—Fitch’s Journey to India Overland, in 1583. (Kerr’s Collection of Voyages, vol. vii. p. 476.)
[133] The vinegar is thus prepared:—The toddy is collected in dry weather, put into jars, and well covered. After a month the contents are strained, and replaced in the same jars, with the addition of a little Chili pepper, (Capsicum frutescens,) commonly called bird-pepper; a small piece of Ghorkah, (fruit of the gamboge tree,) the red sort of which is to be preferred, being most acid; and the pod of the horseradish tree (Hyperanthera moringa). At the expiration of a month or five weeks it becomes very excellent vinegar.
[134] From one inch to two inches in thickness.
[135] The Tahitans do not use the coir in the manufacture of large ropes; for that purpose they use the bark of the Hibiscus tiliaceus, or Purau.
[136] Stewart’s South Seas, 1829, 1830, p. 175.
[137] Stewart’s South Seas, 1829, 1830, p. 177.
[138] Forrest’s Voyage to New Guinea, 4to. 1780, p. 96.
[139] It is said, if sheep have not bitter herbs in their pasturage, they will not thrive.
[140] Description of the Island of Tristan d’Acunha, and its Natural Productions.—Linnean Trans. vol. xii. 1818.
[141] These birds, when brought on board, seldom utter any sound, and that which sometimes proceeds from them is a raucous but not a loud sound. None of the oceanic birds seem to have a very loud note, that of the tropic bird seems the most shrill; the Storm Petrel, or “Mother Carey’s chicken,” has a pleasing twittering note.
[142] The wing has four joints, of which the second is the longest.
[143] It is difficult, indeed I should say impossible, to state correctly the species of Albatross seen during flight, particularly by the plumage, as, at one time, in a certain position, the appearance is different from that which it assumes, almost immediately afterwards, in another.
[144] Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, June 25th, 1833.
[145] Abel’s Narrative of a Journey in China, &c. &c. 4to. p. 251.
[146] Finlayson’s Journal of a Mission to Siam, &c. pp. 86, 87.
[147] Vol. i. p. 143. 8vo. Edit.
[148] Vol. i. page 309, 8vo. edition.
[149] See published proceedings of the Zoological Society, No. 6, June 25th, 1833.
THE END.
LONDON:
IBOTSON AND PALMER, PRINTERS, SAVOY-STREET, STRAND.