148 



G. P. W. CMeMon. Plate LXXII 



Alcuritcs moluccana. 



CANDLE NUT TREE " KUKUI NUT." 



The Kukui tree is easih' recognizable from afar off by the pale 

 hue of its fohage, which appears to be dusted over with flour. It 

 is a handsome, soft wood, evergreen tree, growing to a height of 

 from 40 to 60 feet, and is widely spread over tropical Polynesia, 

 and a great part of ^Malaysia ; and by all branches of the Polyne- 

 sian race it is called by the same name : Kukui or Tutui. The Ha- 

 waiians tattooed their skins with a black d}'e wdiich they prepared 

 from the juice wdiich is found in the flesh}' covering of the green 

 fruit. l"he leaves are alternate, 3 to 5 lobed, pubescent, and have 

 long petioles. The yellowish-green flowers are in terminal clus- 

 ters. The fruit is sphericel, from 1 to 2 inches in diameter, and 

 light-green in color, changing to a dull-brown wdien ripe. It 

 contains one or more nuts, or seeds, wdiich have a very hard, 

 boney shell, the surface of wdiich is uneven like the shell of a 

 walnut. The kernels of this nut, wdien dried, w^ere strung to- 

 gether, or bound on sticks, and served the natives for torches or 

 candles : thus the English name of Candlenut Tree. The oil ob- 

 tained from the nut was used by the Hawaiians for burning in 

 stone lamps. The kernel, when bake;l, pounded, and mixed wdth 

 salt and Chili peppers, makes a brown paste wdiich is very appe- 

 tizing. This is much esteemed by the Hawaiians, wdio call it 

 " Inamona." 



