419 



pean live-stock and plants, because of the profound effect of 

 these alien agencies upon the indigenous vegetation. The wild 

 goats and cattle multiplied with almost incredible rapidity, and 

 before many years had passed, they had done irreparable damage 

 to the Hawaiian forests. The pronounced depletion of the for- 

 ests in all regions to which these herbivorous pests had access, the 

 extinction of numerous plant species, and the conspicuous cur- 

 tailment of the ranges of many others may all be traced to the 

 destructive influences of wild goats and cattle running at large 

 through the mountains and waste lands. 



Similarly, thousands of acres formerly occupied by the native 

 vegetation is now in the possession of ruderals — weeds cosmo- 

 politan throughout the tropics having displaced the less vigorous 

 indigenous forms. There is probably no region that manifests 

 with greater clearness than Hawaii the rapid action and far- 

 reaching influences of alien organisms upon an insular fauna and 

 flora. The innumerable introductions — both intentional and un- 

 intentional — of plants and animals from many other regions has 

 entirely changed the phyto-geography of all Hawaii save the 

 comparatively inaccessible mountain fastnesses. 



Second Visit of Vancouver — 

 Feb. 14 to March 30, 1793. 

 Botanical Excursion at Kazvaihae. 

 First Cattle Introduced. 



Vancouver returned to Hawaii from the California coast, and 

 anchored at Kawaihae Bay, Feb. 14, 1793. A landing was made ; 

 and four sheep presented to '-Kahowmotoo (Keeaumoku), who 

 had taken the greatest care of the goats I had presented him with 

 on a former occasion." Menzies made a botanical excursion of 

 several hours, "in pursuit of new vegetable productions. He 

 returned in the evening, after receiving much hospitable civility 

 from the natives." On the 19th a bull was landed (the first cattle 

 introduced into the Hawaiian Islands. A cow was also sent, but 

 died during passage from the ship to the land. 



Upon removing to Kealakekua, where Kamehameha visited the 

 ships, the remaining live stock, five cows and three sheep were 

 landed. Vancouver remained at this harbor until March 7th, 

 and established a shore station for astronomical observations. 

 Menzies took advantage of this opportunity and made a four- 

 day trip into Kona, attended by a midshipman and nine natives. 



Excursion to the West Maui Ad' oun tains. 



On March 12th Vancouver anchored off Lahaina, Maui; on 

 the 14th Menzies and a party of sailors and natives made a trip 

 into the mountains back of Lahaina, returning on the evening of 

 the following day. Vancouver describes the cultivated portions 

 of the Lahaina plain, mentioning the bread-fruit groves, and the 



