318 A MISSION TO VITI. 



the two varieties grow together, like a fine Turkey car- 

 pet. I have often seen the natives gathering handfuls 

 of them to strew on their heads. In their idea, there is 

 scarcely a finer tree than the Kavika ; and when in their 

 fairy tales the imagination runs riot, and describes all 

 that is lovely and beautiful, the Kavika is rarely omitted. 

 The Hawaiians, as I have stated elsewhere (' Narrative 

 of the Voyage of H.M.S. Herald,' vol. ii. p. 83), thought 

 this tree worthy of supplying materials for their idols ; 

 and thus, like the Fijians, recorded their veneration for 

 it. A botanist, himself more than half a tree-worship- 

 per, can fully sympathize with them. The fine oblong 

 leaves, their smooth shining surface, the deep purple 

 or pure white flowers, and afterwards the large quince- 

 shaped fruits, with their apple-like smell and deli- 

 cate flavour, are well calculated to justify much of the 

 praise Polynesians bestow upon the tree. The Ivi, or 

 Tahitian chestnut, as it has been called by voyagers 

 (Inocarpus edulis, Forst), is one of the common trees, 

 and when fully grown has a most venerable aspect. I 

 still see in my mind's eye a fine group on the banks of 

 a rivulet between Wairiki and Somosomo, diffusing a 

 dense shade. Sixty, often eighty feet high, the Ivi 

 bears a thick crown of oblong leathery leaves, small 

 white flowers emitting a delicious perfume, and kidney- 

 shaped fruits, which contain a kernel resembling chest- 

 nuts in taste. The kernel is either baked or boiled, and 

 eaten without further preparation, or grated on the 

 mushroom coral (Fungia), and made into puddings or 

 bread (madrai). The stem is most singular. When young, 

 it is fluted like a Grecian column ; when old, it has re- 



