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433
Gent.Mag.Sep.1773
Fig.3.
[[IMAGE]]
Fig.2.
[[IMAGE]]
Fig.1.
[[IMAGE]]

War-Canoe.-Bread-fruit-tree.-Coin. 433

ly cleared myself from the imputation of [[afferting]] [[falhoods]], and may fairly continue to file myself 
VERVS.
P.S. If J.N. be inclined to divert himself any farther in this way, he may indulge himself very securely. I shall make no attempt to rob him of the pleasure, or the credit, of confuting what I say now, as effectually as he has done what I said before.  And here I take my leave of him.
   Aug. 12, 1773.

EXPLANATION of the miscellaneous Plate.
FIG. I. is a war canoe of the savages in the South Seas, delineated and described by Parkinson. Speaking of the people of New Zealand, he says, their canoes had from 18 to 22 men in them, and were adorned with fine heads made out of a thick board cut through like filligree-work, in spirals of very curious workmanship. At the top of this was a head, with two large eyes of mother of pearl, and a large hart-shaped tongue. This figure went round to the bottom of the board, and had feet and hands carved upon it very neatly, and painted red. From the top there depended two large streamers made of feathers, which almost reached the water. They had also high-peaked sterns wrought in filligree, and adorned with feathers. Some of these canoes were between 50 and 60 feet long, and rowed with 18 paddles. Parkinson does not mention how they are constructed; but, probably, as they carry such a number of people, they must be strongly put together.
Fig. II. is the branch of the tree on which grows the bread fruit of the inhabitants of most of the islands in the tropical regions of the South Seas. The tree is about the size of a middling oak; its leaves are frequently a foot and a half long, of an oblong shape, like those of the fig tree. The fruit is about the size and shape of the Cantaloupe melon. It is covered with a thin skin, and has a core about the bigness of the handle of a knife. The eatable part lies between the skin and the core. It is as white as snow, and somewhat of the consistence of new break. It must be roasted before it is eaten, being first divided into three or four parts. Its taste is insipid, with a slight sweetness, somewhat resembling the crumb of wheaten bread mixed with the Jerusalem artichoke. It is, however, the only bread the inhabitants have; and when the bread-fruit fails, which in certain seasons it does, like all other fruits, the inhabitants are as much distressed as the poor of other countries when the corn harvest fails.
Fig. III. is an uncommon coin, communicated by a correspondent, who is desirous to know on what occasion it was struck. 
ACCOUNT of the Literary Discipline at CAMBRIDGE, preparatory to the conferring of the First Degree of Arts. From Dr. Jebb's REMARKS. [See p. 335.] 
In the beginning of the month of January, one of the Proctor's servants goes round to every College in the University (Trinity Hall and King's College excepted), and requires a list of the students who in the subsequent January intend to offer themselves as candidates for the Bachelor's degree. 
The names of the students, being thus collected, are delivered to one of the two Moderators*, who transcribes them into a book, for purposes which will be presently explained.
These public exercises are held in the afternoon, for five days in the week during term-time; the Moderator appearing a little before two, and frequently continuing in the schools till the clock strikes four.
Upon the first Monday after the commencement of the January term, the Moderator, whose turn it is to preside, gives written notice to one of the students in his list, that is his pleasure he should appear in the schools as a disputant on that day fortnight.
This person, who is now called the Respondent, in a few hours after he has received the summons, waits upon the Moderator with three propositions or questions; the truth of which he is to maintain against the objections of any three students of the same year, whom the Moderator shall think proper to nominate, and who on this occasion are called Opponents.
The questions, proposed by the Respondent, are written upon four sepa-

*These Moderators are annually chosen upon the 10th of October; their proper office is to preside alternately at the public exercises of the students, and to examine them, at the time of their offering themselves for their degree.