256 Sandal Wood Tree (Santalum). 



being most esteemed. From Java and Madura, eastward, it 

 is scattered in small quantities throughout the different islands, 

 improving in quantity and quality as we move to the east, 

 until we reach Timor, where the best and largest supply 

 occurs." And again he observes : — "In the western coun- 

 tries, where it either does not exist at all, or exists in small 

 quantity and of bad quality ; it is universally known by the 

 Sanscrit name of Chandana, whence it may be fair to infer 

 that its use was taught by the Hindus when they propagated 

 their religion, in the ceremonies of vdiich it is frequently 

 employed." 



The sandal wood tree is most usually found growing on 

 hilly rocky situations ; and, when growing on low land, is 

 usually found degenerated. This latter circumstance is known 

 to the Chinese ; for, at Singapore, a Chinese merchant ob- 

 served that the sandal wood found growing on the rocky 

 mountains contains the greatest quantity of oil, and is of more 

 value than that found growing in low situations and rich 

 soil, as the latter is found to have degenerated. On asking 

 him whence he derived his information, he stated, " from 

 Chinese books." At the Friendly Islands they use the wood 

 for scenting their cocoa nut oil, and a piece of the wood is 

 considered a valuable present by the chiefs ; they procure it 

 occasionally from the Fidji Islands, and call it hai-fidji. The 

 tree will not thrive at Tongatabu. The species found at the 

 Island of Erromanga (New Hebrides) has ovate, entire, 

 smooth, petioled leaves, of a light green colour above, whitish 

 and distinctly veined underneath ; some of the leaves varied 

 in being pointed. It is a tree of irregular and slow growth, 

 attaining the height of about 8 ft. without, and 30 ft. with, 

 branches, and about 2 ft. in diameter. I always remarked, 

 however, that after attaining a moderate size it was invariably 

 found rotten in the heart. Sandal wood is very heavy, sinks 

 in water, and the part of the tree which contains the esseritial 

 oil (according to Cartheuser, 1 lb. of the wood will yield 

 2 drachms of the oil) on which the agreeable odour depends, 

 is the heart, the other portions of the tree being destitute of 

 any fragrance. This portion is surrounded by a lighter wood 

 of some thickness, denominated the sap, which is carefully 

 removed from the heart wood. Sandal wood is sold by 

 weight, and varies in price, according to the size and quality, 

 from 3 to 20 dollars and upwards the picul (133 lbs.). When 

 young, the wood has a whitish colour, and possesses but little 

 fragrance ; as it increases in age it becomes of a yellowish 

 colour ; and, when old, of a brownish red colour, and, at that 

 period is most valued, from contkining the greatest quantity of 



