TIMBER. 357 
Meyer), a sca-side shrub, perhaps identical with the 
Sinu ni vanua, serves the same purpose, its bark, like 
that of other Zhymelew, containing a readily-available 
fibre—a fact also known, according to Mr. Pritchard, in 
the Samoan islands, where the plant is termed “ Mati.” 
Only a limited use is made of the fibre of the Kalaka- 
lauaisoni (Hibiscus [Abelmoschus] diversifolius, Jacq.), a 
plant abounding in swamps all over Fiji. 
Timber of excellent quality, both for house and ship- 
building purposes, abounds on the large islands, and a 
trade in it has already sprung up with the Australian 
colonies. The timber-trees belong principally to the 
natural orders Coniferw, Casuarinew, Guttifere, Myrta- 
cee, and Leguminose. The most valuable woods are 
those produced by the Dakua, Vesi, Dilo, and Vaivai, 
and a list of nearly one hundred useful kinds might be 
drawn up. 
The Dakua or Fijian Kowrie-pine (Dammara Vitiensis, 
Seem.) is a noble addition to a genus of Conifers, of which 
several species are known, scattered over New Zealand, 
Southern Queensland, New Caledonia, Aneitum, the 
Moluccas, Java, and Borneo. Dakuas have been found 
in Vanua Levu, Viti Levu, Ovalau, and Kadava; but 
European sawyers have already made such sad havoc 
amongst them, that it is only in the two former islands 
where they are still abundant. Wilkes alludes to a fine 
one near Levuka, Ovalau, which measured five feet in 
diameter, or 15 feet in circumference. Those which I 
saw at Korovono, Vanua Levu, displayed greater dimen- 
sions, the largest stem being, at four feet above the base, 
eighteen feet; and another, also four feet above the 
