IS39.] TREES. 215 



is worked without difficulty, and makes beautiful furniture. 

 lis leaves were formerly used in religious ceremonies, and 

 embassadors invariably carried a branch of it as an emblem 

 of authority and of peace, like the vervain of the Roman 

 fecial is. 



The tou is a low umbrageous tree, and is generally planted 

 near the dwellings of chiefs. It is not so hard as rosewood, 

 but resembles it in "rain. Rich looking furniture is manu- 

 factured from it ; and the natives also use it in making 

 wooden drums, which give a more sonorous and mellow 

 sound than those made from the wood of other trees. — The 

 toi is of medium size and height. In the vicinity of tha 

 heart, the wood is of a blood red color, but the outer parts 

 are lighter and beautifully waved. It is like satin wood, and 

 is susceptible of a high polish. — The toa, or iron wood, is a 

 largo tree, and bears a heavy canopy of graceful foliage. The 

 wood is exceedingly hard and durable, and of a reddish brown 

 color. The richly carved clubs and spears of the natives are 

 made from it; and the missionaries have tried, and proved 

 it to be valuable, for the sheaves of blocks, and for the cogs 

 in their su^ar mills and other similar articles. A fine and 

 rich red dye may also be obtained from the wood of the toa. 



Probably the bread-fruit is the most abundant of all the 

 trees found in this group. Besides the numerous uses to 

 which it is applied in the Society Islands, a thick cream is 

 here obtained from it, by puncturing, which hardens when 

 exposed to the sun, and, after being boiled, is a good substi- 

 tute for pitch. 



The candle-nut tree is plentifully distributed throughout 

 the mountainous districts, where its white shining leaves 

 contrast finely with the dark glossy foliage of the banana and 

 bread-fruit. This tree bears an oily nut of the size of a 

 walnut, of which domestic candles are made. A number of 

 the nuts, having their husks stripped off, are strung on a rib 

 of the cocoa-nut leaf, which is lighted when required for use. 

 Lampblack is likewise prepared from this nut, as has been 

 mentioned. A gum, of which a good varnish is made, is 



