OF NEW ZEALAND. 
49 
of forty feet, and a dianaeter of three feet ; pro- 
ducing a fine-grained red wood, closer than the 
cedar, and rather heavier than that wood. Its 
bark is clear; it splits freely, and will no doubt 
answer well for all common household furniture. 
Its leaf has the colour, the shape, and the gloss 
of the laurel ; and its roots are more expansive, 
and cover a larger surface than those of any 
other tree of this country. In cutting roads 
through the woods, this plant forms a great 
obstruction, on account of the immense size and 
hardness of its roots. 
Mahoe {Melicytus ramiflorus) has a thin, spi- 
ral, and elegant leaf ; and grows to a height of 
not more than fifty feet; with a circumference 
of about six feet. The bark is smooth and light, 
and the wood which it furnishes is rather heavier 
than the Rimu : it works short, and will not take 
a good polish. Its habits are not robust ; and it 
requires a rich alluvial soil, to bring it to any 
thing like perfection. 
Hinau (Dicera dentata ) — This tree is also par- 
tial to a rich alluvial soil : it grows to a height 
of sixty or seventy feet ; having a cii’cumference 
of about twelve feet. The wood of this plant is 
remarkable for its whiteness ; but is almost use- 
less, on account of the way in which it splits, 
when exposed to either wet or warmth. Its chief 
use is, that it makes an excellent dye, either a 
light brown or puce colour, or a deep black, not 
removable by washing : the natives use it (that 
D 
