The Material Used for Unieke. 



157 



it has been introduced, but if so it must have been in very early time in the history of 

 the people, as the ancient songs often mention the kou. The size the tree attains is 

 shown by an iimeke in this Museum which is nine feet in circumference, and of course 

 made of the heartwood. To fell such a tree with a stone axehead weighing, it may 

 be, ten pounds, must have required patience as well as muscle in the doing. Some of 

 the oldest umeke in existence, which have been found in long ago closed burial caves 

 are of this rather soft but durable wood. 



Another tree the Milo {Thespesia popitlnea^ has the same geographical range 

 as the kou, the same habitat, and like the former tree is passing awa}'^ and is seldom 



FIG. 138. UMEKE NO. 410 : VERY OLD. 



seen out of gardens, while a century ago it was planted about the houses of the alii, as 

 is well remembered around that of Kamehameha the Great at Waikiki. Even the 

 name is the same on the .southeastern groups, where it was almost a sacred tree. It is 

 a smaller tree than the kou, hence we have no large umekes from its v.'ood, but there 

 are verj^ choice small bowls or cups. Its distinguishing feature is a rich peach color 

 and under polish a translucent agate-like appearance. 



Another beautiful and durable wood is the Katiiani {Calopkylhim inopliylliini)^ 

 a tree found all through tropical Asia and the Polynesian islands and used on Hawaii 

 to some extent for umekes. The tree itself is even more beautiful than its wood, and its 

 glossy leaves and sweet-scented flowers caused the old Hawaiians to plant it near their 



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