Note 48 — PREFACE. (continued 6)

Hau (Paritium tiliaceum). The bark of the hau in long strips, furnished excellent material for heavy cord and even rope, made up while fresh and green, or if dried, by soaking it in water to render it pliable. It was made by plaiting, rather than in twisted strands, and of such size as the purpose in hand required. It was with three cables of twelve strands of hau in the effort to haul the Cleopatra’s Barge from her stranded position in the bay of Hanalei, in 1824, that the unaided muscular strength of an immense team of natives rolled the vessel over on her keel and broke off the mainmast to which the cables were attached. ↑