486 Natural History in foreign Countries, 



the natives for a variety of purposes. It is not so abundant at Tahiti as at 

 the Leeward Islands and the Island of Rurutu. The bark of the tree is 

 used by the natives for dyeing a dark red colour; and the ashes of the 

 wood yield a quantity of alkaline, which has lately been used in the 

 manufacture of a kind of coarse soap. 



The Toil Tree (Cordis, orientdlis) attains the elevation of 50 ft. to 60 ft., 

 and a circumference of 6 ft. to 8 ft. ; and bears clusters of handsome orange- 

 coloured flowers. The wood is of a dark red colour, and is used for frame- 

 wood, &c. When it has attained a large size, it is usually found rotten 

 in the heart which prevents its being used for larger purposes. The leaves 

 of the tree are used by the natives as a dye, combined with the juice of the 

 mati (i^cus prollxa), which forms a fine scarlet colour used in dyeing 

 their native cloth. ♦« 



The Fern Tribe is numerous at this island, and some of the species are 

 very elegant ; among others may be mentioned that beautiful umbellated 

 fern, the Schizae^a dichotoma, which is found growing in moist and shady- 

 situations : it is figured in Hooker's F cones Filicum; but a dried specimen, 

 from which the drawing seems to have been made, cannot convey the ele- 

 gant appearance of the plant when seen growing in its native woods. On 

 the high mound, built of coral stones, which still remains of the great 

 moral at Mahiatea, about two miles from Mairipehe (and which is about 

 20 ft. high, and of a great length), I gathered some specimens of a species 

 of Polypodium, which the natives call atua buaa, or pig's god : it was so 

 named, because they considered it, in their idolatrous days, the god of the 



Eig ; and, on a sow littering, it was brought and placed before her, to help 

 er in time of trouble. I suppose that now, as the natives have abolished 

 their idols, the pigs have also lost their deity. There is a fern which grows 

 at the Society Islands, and also at the Island of Rurutu, called nahi by 

 the natives ; the fronds attain a very large size, with alternate pinnate leaf- 

 lets, bulbous at their origins. It is found growing in good soil and in moist 

 land ; it is the Angiopteris erecta, and is well figured in Hooker's F cones 

 Filicuni. It has a pleasant fragrant smell when just gathered, which it loses 

 in a dried state. The Davalh« solida was abundant on all trees ; and also 

 the Gleichenia Hermann^, which is correctly figured in Hooker's Fcones 

 Filicum. The Acrostichum aureum, or aoa of the natives, abounds by the 

 margins of the rivers, the fronds attaining theJieight of 5 ft. or 6 ft. ; and a 

 large species of Lycopodium grows very abundantly on a plain between 

 the isthmus (Taravao) and Vaitore. 



vThe Atai (Erythrmd Corailodendron^y viri-viri of the Sandwich Islands, 

 with its bright red papilionaceous flowers, and the ahia or jambo (Eu- 

 genia malaccensis), also in flower, occasionally added gaiety and beauty to 

 the scenery of this picturesque island. The solitary tree which stood 

 on " One-tree Hill," near Matavai, and which caused that appellation to 

 be given to the hill, was an atai. The" wood of this tree is not used. The 

 cuttings are used for fences, and readily take root. 



Among other Shrubs and Plants are the following : — The pumape, a 

 species of Metrosideros ; the atoto, a shrub bearing blue flowers, a species 

 of Desmodium ; and the motuu, the Melastoma malabathrica {Banks and 

 Solander). The berries of the last yield a juice of a bluish black colour, but 

 are not used by the natives. The oporo, a small species of «S'olanum, bear- 

 ing dark-coloured fruit. The mou (Cyperus) is abundant, and there are 

 several species among them. The mou raupo, mou taviriava, mou maohi, 

 the fibres from the stalks of which are used for straining kava, &c. The 

 Sophora tomentosa, named pofatuaoao by the natives ; a shrub named 

 apiri, a species of Dodon(^^a, fillets of which were formerly used for 

 binding around the heads and waists of the victors after a battle, and 

 when they went in pursuit of the vanquished. — George Bennett, F.L.S. 

 M.R.C.S., Sfc. London, Dec. 10. 1831. 



