CONSUMPTION OF TIMBER. 33 
of mimosa, but none of any great beauty or value. 
One of the most serviceable trees is the purau, or 
fau, hibiscus tiliaceus. In all the islands it is 
more abundant than any other, and though gene¬ 
rally crooked and branching, the wood is light, 
tough, and durable. On account of its lightness, 
elasticity, and strength, it is selected for paddles 
and bows; it furnishes the best boards for the 
native vessels, and its long slender branches 
make excellent rafters for the ordinary dwellings. 
The mara and the pua, the beslaria laurifolia of 
Parkinson, is also a useful as well as an elegant 
tree, while its blossoms are among the most fra¬ 
grant of native flowers. 
To the above catalogue many others might be 
added, which, though inferior in size and number, 
are highly serviceable to the natives. With the 
exception of the purau, most of them are of slow 
growth. In consequence of the recent alteration 
in their habits of life, timber is much more in 
demand than formerly, and has of late years 
become less abundant. As the natives are gene¬ 
rally averse to planting bread - fruit trees, and for 
general purposes always expect a supply of timber 
from the spontaneous growth of the forests, there is 
great fear that, without more regard to the future 
than they have hitherto been induced to manifest, 
timber will in a few years become very scarce 
among them. It is, however, to be hoped that 
the great quantity they are now using, will cause 
them to feel the necessity of providing for a con¬ 
tinued supply. We have often urged it upon, 
their attention, but they seem to think it unner 
cessary, and perhaps the spontaneous growth may 
be more rapid and abundant than we have anti¬ 
cipated. 
T) 
