State Library of NSW
[Page 108]
104 Motuaro
after breakfast we went ashore at a large Indian fort or heppah a great number of people immediately crouded about us & sold almost a boat load of fish in a very short time they then went & shewd us their plantations which were very large of Yamms Cocos and sweet potatoes & after having a little laught at our seine, which was a common kings seine shewd us one of theirs which was 5 fathom deep its lengh we could only guess as it was not stretchd out but it could not from its bulk be less than 4 or 500 fathom fishing seems to be the cheif business of this part of the countrey about all their towns are abundance of netts laid upon small heaps like hay cocks & thatchd over & almost every house you go into has netts in it making
After this they shewd us a great rarity 6 plants of what they calld Aouta from whence they made cloth like the Otahite cloth the plant provd exactly the same as the name is the same as is usd in the Islands Morus papyrifera Linn. the same plant as is usd by the Chinese to make paper whether the Climate does not well agree with it I do not know but they seemd
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