372 BOTANY. 



notes, remarkable for hardness and durability : it takes 

 a good polish, and may be buried for many years in a 

 marshy soil, without presenting the slightest token of 

 decay. When recent, it has a red tint ; but by wear 

 and exposure to the atmosphere it becomes almost as 

 black as ebony. Its specific gravity being greater than 

 that of sea- water, it offers an eligible material for making 

 wooden anchors, when ships are compelled to resort to 

 this expedient. It is the wood most prized by the 

 Polynesians for making implements requiring weight or 

 durability, as spears, clubs, cloth-mallets, and poe- 

 mortars. 



The bark of the tree has a powerful astringent taste, 

 and communicates a red colour to water. It is largely 

 used by the Tahitians as a brown dye for their 

 bark- cloth ; and, in the progress of civilized improve- 

 ments, has been successfully employed in tanning ; 

 while the ashes of the burned tree have been preferred 

 to all others for obtaining lye for the manufacture of 

 soap. 



Pitcairn Island. Society Isles ; native name aito* 

 or toa. Timor. Marquesas. 



Euphorbia Sp. ; native name ko-ko. E. multiformis. 

 E. hirta. E. Sp. ; native name nahu. Sandwich 

 Isles. 



E. helioscopia. E. peplis. E. rosea. St. Helena. 



* This word is employed in common language by the Society Islanders, 

 to express strength or durability ; and is often thus applied to persons 

 who though aged, are active and robust. The natives of India use the 

 word teak in the same metaphorical sense. 



