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soaked or cooked, so that an ounce makes a considerable bulk when 

 ready to serve. This is also true of most dried seaweeds, and espe- 

 cially of the common kombu, wakame, and che choy. 



Che choy {Porphyra perforata) is imported from San Francisco and 

 is a substitute for a Chinese alga called tsu choy (probably Forjphyra 

 orbiculata and P. tenera) which is greatly prized by the Chinese. It 

 costs from 75 cents to $1 per pound when imported from China and 

 keeps very poorly, often spoiling soon after its arrival; hence the use 

 of the cheaper che choy from San Francisco. This retails here at 12 

 to 15 cents per pound, and is said to be almost as good as the Chinese 

 variety. The tsu choy is imported only in small packages for the 

 New Year feasts and sold to a few Chinese epicures. 



One Chinese wholesale grocer said that he imported annually two or 

 three tons of che choy, which costs from $600 to 1700. He estimated 

 that from 25 to 30 tons of this seaweed was imported yearly from San 

 Francisco, costing from $6,000 to $7,000. 



The Chinese use seaweed very much in the same way as the 

 Hawaiians. They cook it in soups, stewed meats, or gravy, and also 

 make it into pickles, preserves, or candies and other sweetmeats. 



USE OF LIMITS FOK MEDICINE AND INCANTATIONS. 



The writer has been unable to gather much data regarding the 

 medicinal uses of limu, yet the few items collected are of considerable 

 interest. Certain green fresh-water algee, species of Spirogyra and 

 Cladophora, are said to heal sore eyes if tied on as a poultice. Limu 

 kala is pounded with salt and bound about bruises and cuts to relieve 

 pain. Limu huna is sometimes boiled and the hot infusion given for 

 stomach ache. Limu eleele is dried and put on boils, or it is sometimes 

 used fresh and moist to poultice boils. Limu pahapaha is pounded 

 and put on bruises. Lima luau is pounded to a pulp with salt and 

 the juice is used to moisten bandages on cuts or bruises. Limu eleele 

 and limu palawai are both pounded with salt and tied on cuts and 

 bruises. Limu maneoneo is pounded with salt and the juice is put on 

 cuts or bruises. A species of Centroceras, probably O. clavulatum^ is 

 pounded with sal't and put on bruises and sores. An infusion of this 

 same alga, when cooked, is given for a cathartic. 



Limu kala is used by the kahunas or witch doctors in incantations 

 to drive away sickness. The superstitious native when ill gathers 

 limu kala, makes a lei for head or neck, eats some, says a prayer of 

 penitence, promises to do better, then goes into the sea. He must not 

 look back, speak, or beckon to anyone until he takes the limu lei, places 

 it on head or neck, eats a bite of it, then throws the lei back into the sea, 

 still looking out to sea and praying for forgiveness. This ceremony 

 is said to cure if it is faithfully carried out. 



It is believed that a most effective love potion is made from limu 

 kalawai, or fresh-water limu kala as it i= r^Hc^T, r.oilorl Tho i/- 



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