FLORA OF THE GROUP. 217 



the moist valleys of the lower zone. The plants were carefully cared foi- mid the 

 roots when gathered were nsed either fresh or dried. To make the drink the 

 root, which is astringant to the taste, was first clnnved and thoroughly mixed 

 with saliva. It was then put into a wooden bowl and a (|uan1ity of water added. 

 After it had stood a short time the liquid was strained olT: it was then ready 

 for drinking. The effect was that of a narcotic and invai'ial)l>- produced stupi- 

 fication if taken in any quantity. 



Native Fiber Plants. 



The natives formerly cultivated several other plants in the lower forest zone. 

 Olona -- was one of the most important of these. The plant growls best in regions 

 of great rainfall, usually in the wet forests on the windward side. 



The olona plant is a low woody perennial, w^ith a viscid .juice, seldom 

 growing more than a dozen feet in height. It has large ovate leaves, often a foot 

 in length and proportionately broad. The genus is a Hawaiian one with but a 

 single species, but botanists tell us that it belongs to the same order as the 

 ramie, 2^ which is grown in many places as a fiber plant. The fiber, "olona," is 

 contained in the bast of the stem and is remarkably fine and straight and is en- 

 tirely free from gum. 



In former times every chief had an olona plantation somewhere in the moun- 

 tains, as the fiber from the wild plants was not vised to any extent. In raising 

 the crop the ferns were carefully cleared away from about the patch to give the 

 plant all the strength of the soil. The old plants were broken or rolled down 

 to allow the young shoots to grow' straight and rapidly. When of sufficient 

 size the crop was cut, stripped and hackled by the use of crude implements 

 and allowed to dry and bleach until such time as the fiber was white and ready 

 for use. Being resistant to the action of salt water it made fine rope, seines and 

 fish lines. Certain of the natives formerly paid their taxes in olona, and it was 

 always regarded as a valuable possession. 



The paper mulberry or Avauke -^ of the natives has a milky sap and is a 

 small tree with ovate leaves. The leaves are either entire or three-lolxnl and 

 usually from five to seven inches long, dentate along the edges and roughened 

 on the upper surface. The use and culture of the plant has been explained 

 elsewhere. It is now to be met with growing in clumps here and there through 

 the lower open portions of the forests. Wauke is to be distinguished from the 

 mamake,-^ which is a low shrul) seldom over ten feet high, with fiowers in axilhii-y 

 clusters, that was also used in the manufacture of tapa. ]\Ianiake lias the ovate 

 leaves three to four inches long, and the sap always watery and the flowers uni- 

 sexual. The leaves vary greatly in several respects, but generally are whitish 

 Ijeneath. The species seems to be unknown outside of this iii-oiq). 



SANDALWOOD. 



That portion of Hawaiian history wliich tells of the diseovery of sandal- 



22 Touchardia latifolia. "^ Boelnneiia nivea. -* Brommonetia pnpyrifera. *^ Pijitiiriis nlbidiis. 



15 



