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Heller : PLANTS OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 761 



of its large guano deposits The plants found on it are the 

 same as those which occur along the beach on the lee sides of 

 Oahu and Kauai, as Gossypium tomentosum and Scaevola koenigii. 



Kauai, the third in size, is the oldest in point of formation, 

 and usually considered to be the best botanically. On the lee 

 side, separated by a channel nine miles in width, is Niihau, a 

 small and rather low island, the maximum height not exceed- 

 ing 1,000 feet. In the early part of the century it was of con- 

 siderably more importance than now, as ships were accustomed 

 to put in there to get a supply of yams, which were very 

 abundant. There also the famous Niihau mats were made 

 from Oyperus laevigatics. 



Following the trend of formation from northwest to south- 

 east, Oahu, the fourth island in size, comes next, separated 

 from Kauai by a channel sixty miles in width. 



Next in order is Molokai, fifth in size. It is a long, narrow 

 island, with precipitous cliffs along the windward side. Con- 

 flicting statements are made as to the height of the mountains 

 on this island, some giving 3,500 feet as the maximum, others 

 6,000 feet The highest, and consequently the wettest portion, 

 is toward the eastern end. The western end is composed of 

 the ancient crater of Maunolaa. On a small peninsula, which 

 juts out near the middle on the north side of the island, is situ- 

 ated the leper settlement. This point of land is cut off from 

 the main portion of the island by a pali, as precipices are there 

 called. This pali is about 3,000 feet high, and practically im- 

 passable, so that the only approach is by sea. Some years ago 

 the lepers, or as many of them as could be captured, were sent 

 off to Molokai, and now, whenever a case develops, the victim 

 is promptly sent there too. The government provides them 

 with habitations, food and medical attendance, so that many of 

 them are really much better off than they were before. This 

 method has undoubtedly done much to check the spread of the 

 dread disease. 



Immediately south of Molokai, separated by a narrow chan- 

 nel, is Lanai, a small island, with a maximum elevation of per- 

 haps 2,500 feet. Lying as it does on the lee side of Molokai 

 and Maui, it receives but a small amount of moisture, and has 

 only one permanent stream of water. 



Just east of Lanai, lies Maui, the second in size of the group. 

 It is composed of two mountains, connected by a low, sandy 

 isthmus. The western part consists of precipitous mountain 

 ridges, while the larger eastern part is occupied by the great 



