666 FOURTH BULLETIN OF [1S46. 



Most nf ttip necessaries are chenp and good. 



The whole population of these islands is estimated now not to exceed one hun- 

 dred and len tlirmsand souls, and by all observations appears to be decreasing; but 

 the estimation of Captain Cook, who atti«ihutcd to these islands four hundred ihou. 

 sand, no doubt was overrated by one.half. 



Amomuin Zcnimbet. — This plant will frequently be seen in small patches in the 

 neighborhood of Honolulu ; the leaves are broad and pinnate, the flower spike com- 

 pact, bractea red, flowers pale yellow and without odor. It yields a fine fluid 

 which allavs ihirsl. 



Cvrtandra Lessonia — This is one of the forest trees of the Sandwich islands. It 

 has white monapetalous flowers, which are very fragrant, and the fruit is a while 

 bnrry, with two cells and many seeds. 



Cvrtandra Triflora. — This is a bhrub found in thick shady places near the Pali 

 precipice. 



Piper Methysticnm. — This is the plant called kava or ava by the Polynesians. 

 The leaves are alternate, on rather long petioles, broad heart-shaped and smooth, 

 much veined and have a sombre green color. The root is used to prepare the intoxi- 

 cating drink railed awa. A half a pint of the infusion produces intoxication, but no 

 excitement of body or mind, and a long continued use a leprous eruption of the 

 skin. Tlie king cultivates a considerable quantity, and is said to be under excite, 

 ment of it more or less every evening. It has an extremely nauseous taste to those ■ 

 unaccustomed to it. It is much employed also in dropsy as a remedy, and is said 

 to be very effectual. 



January, 1846. — As a commercial place Mazatlan dates but eight or ten years 

 back, when it consisted of but a few houses or miserable huts, principally occupied 

 by Indians or half-breeds, and who in fact constitute the great majority of the in- 

 habitants, the merchants only forming the white population. 



At present it is a place of considerable trade, and in its rapid growth has re- 

 sembled many of our western towns, but here many of the houses are mere hovels, 

 while a few "members of the mercantile community have splended mansions. I 

 have been informed that it is at present the only town in Mexico that is rapidly in- 

 creasing in population. The prosperity of this place is caused by the silver mines 

 of the interior, a large amount of bullion and coin being brought here for exporta- 

 tion, which is nearly all smuggled onboard English men-of-war. The Mexicans, 

 in returning, take a large amount of merchandise of various kinds in the interior. 



The aspect of the surrounding country is barren and uninviting, having a high 

 range of mountains in the distance, among which are some fertile valiies, and 

 from whence this place is supplied with fruit and vegetables, being transported a 

 distance of more than fifty miles on mules, there being no roads wliatever yet con- 

 structed for carrying of any kind, and in consequence provisions of all kinds are 

 exceedingly dear. 



There is a peculiar feature given to the country here by a species of cactus (co- 

 lumnarius) which oOen rises to the height of forty feet, liaving a trunk sometimes 

 three feet in diameter with the summit much branched, the branches deeply fur- 

 rowed and armed with spines. The flowers are of a pale red color, rather incon- 

 spicuous. Much of the cultivated land is enclosed with this plant, the branches 

 being cut off six or eight feet long and inserted into the ground, where they soon 

 take root, and by their spines prevent the ingress of animals. 



The principal forest tree here is the , belonging to leguminoseae, and 



it much resembles the locust in appearance. The natives call it ebony, from the re- 

 semblance of the heart wood'to that timber. By the English it is called iron wood, 

 from its weight. It lakes a very high polish, but is very brittle, and is frequently 

 fashioned into canes. 



A beautiful species of justicia will frequently be found entwined around the 

 cactus, with red terminal flowers in clusters. 



The Cuscula Americana is found abundantly in this neighborhood. It is a 

 parasite, without roots, and entwines around other plants. The flowers are white. 



There is a species of rhamnus in great abundance here, which the inhabitants use 

 to give an acid taste to the water they drink. Some birds live entirely on the ber- 

 ries while in season. The flowers are yellow and the berries of an orange color. 



Jatropha Urcens. — This is n plant with variegated leaves, armed with long silrerj 

 hairs, and when touched produces a stinging effect. 



