MAHIE, the name given by the inhabitants of Otalbeite, or George's island, to their bread-fruit when made into a kind of sour paste, which, in consequence of having undergone a fermentation, will keep a considerable
Mahie siderable time, and supply them with food when no
Mahomet ripe fruit is to be had. When therefore they see a
great show of new fruit on the trees, they strip them
all at once of their former crop, of which they make
mahie. This succedaneum for ripe bread-fruit is thus
made. They gather the fruit before it be perfectly
ripe, and laying it in heaps, cover it closely with leaves.
In this state it ferments, and becomes disagreeably
sweet; the core is then taken out entire, and the rest
of the fruit thrown into a hole in their houses, dug on
purpose, and neatly lined in the bottom and sides with
grass. The whole is then covered with leaves, and
heavy stones are laid upon it. In this state it under-
goes a second fermentation, and becomes sour; after
which it will suffer no change for many months. It is
taken out of this hole as it is wanted for use, and being
made into balls, it is wrapped up in leaves and baked,
and thus dressed it will keep for five or six weeks. It
is eaten, both cold and hot, and the natives of those
countries seldom make a meal without it; but to Captain
Cook and his company the taste was as disagreeable
as that of a pickled olive generally is the first time
it is eaten.