MEDICINAL PLANTS. 341 
as a remedy for macake, the thrush—ulcerated tongue 
and throat. The properties of the Sarsaparilla (Smilar 
sp.), as a means of purifying the blood, are well known. 
The creeper is found throughout the group, especially 
on land that has at one time been cleared, and might 
be gathered in quantities if there were any demand 
for it. In the London market it would at present be 
unsaleable. It belongs to that section of sarsaparillas 
distinguished by pharmacologists as the “non-mealy,” 
the most valued representative of which is the Jamaica 
sort. Moreover, it has no “beard,” or little rootlets 
The natives of Ovalau, Viti Levu, and Vanua Levu, 
name it Kadragi and Wa rusi; those of Kadavu, “Na 
kau wa,” literally, ‘‘ the woody creeper.” I met with it 
years ago in the Hawaiian group; it is said to be also 
common in the Samoan and Tongan groups, and pre- 
pared sarsaparilla occasionally imported to the two last 
mentioned has found no market, the indigenous being 
preferred to the foreign production. Curious to add, in 
Fiji it is not, as with us, the rhizome that is used, but 
the leaves, which are chewed, put in water, and strained 
through fibre, like the Yaqona or Kava (Piper methys- 
ticum, Forst.), before being taken. Strong purgative 
properties reside in the Vasa or Rewa (Cervera lactaria, 
Ham.), a sea-side tree, twenty-five feet high, with soft 
wood, smooth shining leaves, and white scented flowers, 
used for necklaces by the natives. The aromatic leaves 
of the Laca (Plectranthus Forsteri, Benth.), a weed 
abounding in cultivated places, and having purple bracts 
supporting pale blue flowers, cure, it is said, ‘‘ bad eyes ” 
and headaches on being brought in contact with the 
