21

A.—3a,

The following are the principal productions of the group : —Cocoa-nuts, cotton, native chestnut (Inocarpus edulis), candle-nuts, bananas, mountain plantains, oranges, lemons, limes, citrons, shaddocks, pine-apples, mangoes, guavas, Malay apples, rose apples, custard apples, pawpaws, tamarinds, bread-fruit, yams, taro, pumpkins, melons, sweet potatoes, arrowroot, ginger, wild nutmeg, sugar-cane, mandioc or sweet casava, indigo, coffee, Indian corn, tobacco, chilis, vi (Spondias dulcis), medicinal plants, several trees with very fragrant blossoms that might be used for the preparation of scents, some that exude aromatic gum, and others that furnish very handsome and durable wood, suitable for cabinet-ware and furniture. There are two cotton plantations on TJpolu, of from 200 to 300 acres each, belonging to Messrs. Goddefroy, and several smaller ones, belonging to other Europeans. Both the Sea Island and kidney cotton grow most luxuriantly, and bear well. When planted in March, the first crop is ready for picking in July. The first year of planting there are two crops, one in July and one in September or October ; in succeeding years three crops may be picked. The chief article of export is cobra, which is the kernel of the cocoa-nut cut into small pieces and dried in the sun. The preparation of cocoa-nut oil has been almost entirely given up by the Natives, as they find that they can get a more rapid and certain return for their labour by the simple process of preparing cobra. The oil is now expressed from the cobra on its reaching Europe. The trade mostly iv request by the Natives is white and printed calicoes (which are known by the general name of " cloth," and are used by both sexes as lava-lavas or waist cloths), gay-coloured cotton handkerchiefs, butchers' knives, and American axes. The knives most approved of are large heavy ones, of about 14 or 16 inches in length, which the Natives use for all purposes. Soap, sewing cotton, and small fishhooks come next. Double-barrel guns, powder, lead, and shot, are also in great demand just at present. It is alleged that since the introduction of fire-arms the loss of life in the Native wars is much less than it used to be formerly, when they fought only with clubs and spears at close quarters, as the combatants observe great caution in approaching each other, from fear of the guns, and both sides commence firing a long way out of range. The British Consul puts down the European population as under:—British subjects ... ... ... ... ... ... 250 Subjects of the United States of America ... ... ... 45 Germans, Spaniards, Portuguese, and others ... ... ... 150 445 This must include the half-castes, for I am satisfied, from inquiries I made from old residents and others best able to give information on this point, that the foreign residents do not reach the number here given. I believe there are altogether about 250 Europeans on the group, most of whom are English. The following statistics of imports, exports, and shipping, for the last five years, were supplied to me by the British Consul: — Imports. Exports. Tear. Value. Value. 1867 ... £36,600 ... £40,598 186S ... 37,200 ... 38,020 1869 ... 35,992 ... 32,500 1870 ... 42,800 ... 25,600 1871 ... 25,000 ... 45,000 The imports in 1871 were less than in previous years on account of the large stocks that were on hand ; the increase in exports was caused by the Natives pouring in all the produce they could gather for the purpose of purchasing arms and ammunition for a war that was going on between two of the tribes.

The arrivals of shipping were as under: — No. of Ships. Tonnage. 1867.—British ... 26 ... 5,991 Foreign ... 31 ... 3,800 9,791 1868.—British ... 34 ... 8,038 United States of America 5 ... 3,072 G-erman ... 24 ... 3,875 Tahitian ... 2 ... 159 15,144 1869.—British ... 29 ... 4,402 United*States of America 3 ... 3,690 German ... 22 ... 4,230 Tahitian ... 2 ... 150 12,472 1870.—British ... 32 ... 4,940 United States of America 6 ... 3,791 German ... 28 ... 7,004 Tahitian ... 4 ... 650 16,385 1871.—British ... 26 ... 4,856 United States of America 3 ... 500 German ... 36 ... 8,696 Tahitian ... 2 ... 230