FLORA OF THE GROUP. 219 



wood -® in the islands, and the events which led to its being almost wiped out as 

 a forest tree as a consequence of its great value in commerce, may properly be 

 sketched here, since the iliahi furnished the first article of export which attracted 

 commerce to the islands. Sandalwood is still occasionally found at rare intervals 

 and in out-of-the-way places in the lower forest belt on all of the islands, though 

 the range of the several imperfectly-defined varieties and species extends the 

 distribution from near the sea shore up to as high as ten thousand feet on Maui, 

 where the species -^ becomes a low dense shrub, six to ten feet high. 



The delicately scented wood is from a tree usually growing from fifteen to 

 twenty-five feet high with opposite ovate to obovate leaves two and a half to 

 three inches long by about an inch and a half in width, which are somewhat 

 thickened and perhaps ochraceous underneath. The flowers occur as small ter- 

 minal and axillary inconspicuous cymes. 



The sandalwood trade began about 1792, the first authentic mention of it 

 being made by Vancouver. It is thought that the knowledge of there being 

 sandalwood in the islands was an accidental discovery by one Capt. Kendriek 

 and that the wood was probably brought to his vessel with other timber as fire 

 wood. From this time on the development of the business was rapid until in 

 1816 it had developed into an important industry among the natives, chiefs and 

 foreigners. Between 1810 and 1825 the trade was at its height. The wood was 

 at first sold in India, but later the market shifted to Canton, where the large 

 pieces were used in manufacturing fancy articles of furniture and in carvings, 

 and the smaller pieces made into incense. 



For export the green wood was cut in the mountains into logs three or four 

 feet long. These varied from two to eight inches in diameter. The logs were 

 carried on the heads and shoulders of the natives to the shore where they were 

 sorted and tied into bundles weighing one hundred and thirty-three and a half 

 pounds each. While green and wet the wood has no aromatic smell, but when 

 dry the odor is powerful and impregnates the whole atmosphere. 



The bundles of sandalwood were eagerly purchased by American traders 

 for export. The business flourished to such an extent that it is reported that 

 during the height of the industry three hundred thousand dollars worth of 

 sandalwood was exported in a single year. 



The king, as well as many chiefs, engaged in this profitable business on 

 their own account. At about this period each man was reqiiired to deliver to the 



2** Santoluvi elliptic^ 



DESCRIPTION' OF PLATE, 



1. The crest of the Ma]iuhihu-\Vailau trail, Molokai (3151 feet), showing the character 

 of the growth iu the rain forest. 2. \iew from near the summit of the Palolo trail, Oahu; 

 a typical mountain scene. 3. An leie {Freycinetia Arnotti) jungle on Oahu. 4. Typical 

 view of the vegetation on the mountain ridges of Oahu. 5. A mountain path, showing a 

 natural graft between two neighboring Ohia trees. 6. View showing the bog flora at the 

 head of Pelekuku valley, Molokai. 7. Sand beach, showing Pohuelnie {Ipomoia pes-caprae) 

 trailing down to the water's edge. 



