the Pacific is unmistakable evidence of intercourse between agricultural nations, and of the wide dissemination of cultivated plants at a very remote period. Throughout the warm regions of the Old World beaten or felted bark cloth was formerly in general use, as cotton stuffs are at present. Throughout the great chain of islands that extends from Sumatra to the Hawaiian Archipelago it was, during the last century, the principal article of clothing worn by the inhabitants.* “Madagascar.” Samuel Pusfield Oliver. Ellis found it in use amongst the natives of Madagascar; and, prior to Arab invasions, excepting the skins of animals, it was the only material with which the people of Central Africa covered themselves.† “Artes Africanae.” Dr. G. Schweinfurth. The best description of this African cloth, manufactured by the Uganda who occupied the northern shores of the Victoria Nyanza, closely resembles the tapa cloth of Polynesia. Grooved mallets, similar to those used in the Pacific islands, and which, like them, imparted to the fabric a corded appearance, were employed in its preparation.‡ “Albert N'yanza.” Sir S. Baker. It is worthy of remark that the Uganda who navigate the great lake use outrigger canoes,§ “Emin Pasha in Central Africa.” and that scattered throughout their country and the adjoining Unzoro State are many large dragon-trees, the genus Dracæna to which they belong being, according to some authorities,∥ Personal narrative of travels. Humboldt and Bonpland. originally confined to the Malay and Polynesian regions. The manufacture of felted bark cloth is evidently a more primitive art than weaving, for, wherever the loom is known, bark cloth is only found amongst the rudest sections of the population; this is the case in Madagascar, though the woven fabrics are of a very rude description. On the African Continent and in Polynesia, where bark cloth was the principle clothing material, spinning and weaving were unknown, though cotton and other fibrous plants are indigenous. Taro, or Colocasia arum esculentum, has been cultivated in Hindostan for more than four thousand years. As the species readily escapes from cultivation, it is impossible to determine the exact habitat of the wild stock; we are therefore unable to decide whether the species belonged originally to the Malay Islands, and was there brought into cultivation, or whether it was introduced as a cultivated plant. Throughout the Pacific region, wherever the inhabitants were agriculturists, when Europeans first came in contact with them the Colocasia was one of the most important esculents; the correspondence of the Malay names tallus, tallas, tales, or taloes with the Polynesian dalo, taro, and talo leaves little room for doubt that it