THE FLORA OF VAVAU. 23 
mastication only. Tobacco is smoked in the form of a “ suluka”’ 
—a kind of cigarette in which the dried banana-leaf replaces the 
cigarette-paper. The oil of the Dilo-nut, or Feta’u as the Tongans 
call it (Calophyllum Inophyllum), is well known as a remedy for 
rheumatism. The leaves of the Toi (Alphitonia excelsa) make an 
excellent substitute for soap, more effective than those of Fihva 
(Colubrina asiatica). The fan-shaped leaves of the Biu (Pritch- 
ardia), when dried, are used by the native preachers as wraps 
for their black suits when they go from home to conduct services 
There are some fine specimens of the “ Ovava-tahi”’ (Ficus 
prolva) in the islands, notably one on Bagaimotu (Vavau group), 
the trunk of which forms an arch through which a coach could 
easily be driven. 
The pigs, which are common in the island, find a favourite food 
in the tubers of Cyperus rotundus. One frequently comes across 
great patches of turned-up earth, showing where they have 
grubbed out these tubers. They clean out oranges in very neat 
style. The horses first taught me to distinguish Cordyline termi- 
nalis from Canna indica by the leaves (the flowers and fruits of 
course are very different). The way they nose out the former, 
though hidden among a mass of Canna indica, is surprising. But 
bread-fruit leaves are their chief delight, and a horse can be 
coaxed from a bread-fruit tree only by the use of the whip. 
The young leaves of several trees have a pink or red colour. 
The young shoots of Tatau-amanu (Cynometra), when freed from 
the enveloping bud-scales, resemble a pendulous chain of red 
flowers. For a perfect blaze of colour, nothing exceeds the 
Fekika in flower (Lugenia malaccensis). The flowers of the 
Ipomeas are showy, but with the exception of the blue J. congesta 
they do not form compact masses. They have a way of peering 
out in solitary splendour from dark depths of foliage not their 
own. ‘The orange-tree in flower is a beautiful, as well as fragrant, 
object; and it is difficult to say whether an orange-grove in 
flower or in fruit is the more pleasing sight. In the absence of 
flowers and fruit the tree is a shabby object. 
When the more striking wonders of tropical scenery—the 
bright hues and fragrant odours of flowers, and the ceaseless 
waving of the palm-leaves—have Jost their novelty, the quiet 
beauty of the Tavahi (Rhus taitensis) may perhaps arrest attention. 
To my mind the Tavahi, with its pinnate leaves and panicles of 
white flowers, is the most beautiful tree in these islands. 
Lastly, a few words on climate. There is little to remind one 
