336 



DISTRIBUTION OF PLANTS. 



grasses and other plants as the adjoining upland, but containing 

 a few peculiar species : as a yellow-flowered Hihiscus resembling H. 

 scaber: two species of Thehjpteris ; a Ilechjotis having the aspect of 

 Veronica scutellata ; a Polygonum resembling P. persicaria ; a Convol- 

 vulus having small, white flowers ; and a large species of Scleria, four 

 to five feet high. 



The peninsula shutting in the Bay on the Northwest, with the 

 slight additional territory, taking in Haipaka Peak and the neigh- 

 boring island of Anganga, constitutes the Sandal-wood District 

 of the Feejee Islands. The land-surface is a little more broken 

 than usual; with steep rocky hills of moderate elevation, in general 

 barren, but from extending into the channel between the two main 

 islands, partaking slightly of the advantages of Windward exposure ; 

 indeed, at the extreme point, there is a patch of woods, regarded 

 in this part of the group as an object sufficiently remarkable to be 

 tabooed.- — On my second visit to the Bay, some weeks later, I landed 

 in the Sandal-wood District, in company with Mr. Brackenridge and 

 others. The plant itself, Santalum, had become rare ; but some stocks 

 were pointed out, not readily distinguished among the surrounding 

 shrubs, the flowers being inconspicuous, and the newly-cut wood desti- 

 tute of odor: we could discover no peculiarity of soil or situation that 

 should restrict the species to such narrow limits. We passed a night 

 at the chief's town, on the top of a high rocky knoll ; in the environs 

 of which, we found a greater variety of trees and interesting plants 

 than in any other low portion of the Leeward side of the group ; 

 in conformity with the more broken character of the surface. 

 Among the trees, was one kind that our native guides refused to 

 climb, making signs, that it would produce an eruption on the breast 

 and soles of the feet ; a statement that seemed probable when speci- 

 mens were procured, showing a gen. Semecarpoid, of the same natural 

 family with our Rhus venenata. 



Mr. Brackenridge and myself also made an excursion to the range 

 of MOUNTAIN-CRESTS BACK OF Mbua Bay ; about Seven miles inland, 

 and hardly less than two thousand feet in elevation. They proved 

 easily accessible, and were covered with shrubs and trees ; the expo- 

 sure, from the superior elevation, being decidedly Windward; the 

 sun was out, but the weather rainy and disagreeably cool, and the 

 wind blowing heavily. The variety of plants proved less than we 

 anticipated ; but the trees and shrubs included a Weinmannia, re- 



