346 A MISSION TO VITI. 



The wood is of a light-brown, and highly charged with 

 aromatic oil, especially in the central portion of the 

 stem and branches, developed in the highest degree in 

 the oldest trees and near the root. It is grated on 

 the mushroom coral (Fungia) and mixed with cocoa- 

 nut oil by the Fijians, as well as by all the Polynesian 

 tribes who are fortunate enough to obtain possession of 

 it. In China, the larger pieces were used for ornamental 

 work, and the sawdust and other remnants made into 

 joss-sticks, burned before idols and images. 



The bark of the Macou, as it is termed in the Bau 

 dialect, " Mou " in that of Kadavu, and " Maiu " in that 

 of Namosi, is a kind of Cassia bark, which may prove 

 of commercial importance, and is used by the Fijians 

 for scenting cocoa-nut oil. The tree yielding it a spe- 

 cies of Cinnamomum is about thirty feet high, four to 

 five inches in diameter, and is met with above an eleva- 

 tion of 1500 feet, in dense virgin forests. I met it on 

 Buke Levu, island of Kadavu, and on Voma peak, Viti 

 Levu ; and Mr. Pritchard received fine specimens from 

 the island of Gau, where they had been collected by 

 W. Berwick, a coloured man, residing there. The bark 

 has a fine aromatic smell and flavour, a light-brown 

 colour, is thicker than that of the cinnamon of com- 

 merce, and resembles some of the laurineous barks, 

 such as the Sintoc and Culilawang, brought from the 

 Moluccas. In Namosi it is used as a sudorific. Unfor- 

 tunately, I did not see the tree in flower, and hence am 

 unable to determine whether the " buds " are equal to 

 the best " Cassia buds " of commerce. The resemblance 

 of the Fijian names to that of " Massoy," given to a fine 



