302 CRUISE OF THE PORPOISE. 



eventually form an important object to those who trade with this 

 group. 



Sweet-potato : this vegetable some think may have been intro- 

 duced by the Spaniards. There are thirty-three varieties of it, 

 nineteen of which are of a red colour, and thirteen white. 



Sisymbrium grows about Honolulu, and is used by the residents 

 as a salad. 



Fern-root (Blechnum), the core of which is eaten by the natives. 



Cocoa-nuts are plentiful, but little used. 



Papaw apple (Carica papaya) is abundant. 



Rose apple (Eugenia) is plentiful, and a very fine fruit. 



Bananas, plantains, abundant. 



Candle-nut (Aleurites triloba), tutui of the natives. The oil of 

 this nut is becoming an article of commerce, and is said to answer for 

 painting. 



Bread-fruit (Artocarpus incisa), of which there is only one species. 



Pandanus, " lauhala" is one of the most useful trees they have : 

 the leaves are used for making baskets, mats, and for thatching their 

 houses. The women make necklaces from the nuts. 



Hibiscus tiliaceus, "hous," also serves many purposes, among 

 which is the manufactui^e of ropes : its wood being light and tough, 

 is used for out-riggers, and for sticks to carry burdens on. 



Acacia, which is used in a variety of ways. 



The black mustard has become naturalized. 



Turmeric (Curcuma) is also found, I understood, in considerable 

 quantities on Maui, of which some has been procured for sale, and 

 was pronounced to be of excellent quality. 



Indigo is found growing wild, particularly in Hawaii. Almost all 

 kinds of foreign fruits and vegetables have been introduced, and 

 with but few exceptions, succeed well : this is also the case with 

 many ornamental trees, shrubs, and plants. 



It was observed by our botanists, that the character of the flora 

 of the Hawaiian Islands is similar, in many respects, to both the 

 Indian and Polynesian, yet in some particulars it bears a strong 

 contrast to the southern Polynesian islands. This difference con- 

 sists in the absence of all species of Ficus : the small varieties of 

 trees are also absent, although there are some extensive forests. 

 Orchideous plants are extremely rare, and the epiphytic species 

 wanting altogether, while the Compositse are much more abundant 

 than in the more southern islands. 



