Dr. Cantor on the Flora and Fauna of Chusan, 269 



It flowers in the month of July and August, and the fruit ar- 

 rives at maturity in November, when the capsule containing 

 three seeds bursts open. The process by which the vegetable 

 tallow is secured is very simple. The seeds, after having been 

 taken out of the capsules, are thrown into large vessels of 

 boiling water, which, after being allowed to cool, leaves the 

 pure white hardened substance, insoluble in alcohol, on the 

 surface. The latter is again melted and formed into candles 

 over wicks of thin bamboo or straw, which have been length- 

 ways surrounded by a closely fitting spiral of thinner straw. 

 These candles, which are said to form a no small article of ex- 

 portation, are originally of a beautiful white colour, but some- 

 times dyed red ; they burn remarkably well, without any un- 

 pleasant smell, and notwithstanding the rudely made wick, 

 give a very good light. I have kept several of these candles 

 exposed to the influence of the hot season in Calcutta, not- 

 withstanding which they did not lose their original hardness. 

 Stillingia sebifera has many years ago been introduced in 

 Bengal, where it seems to thrive remarkably w^ell ; but Dr. 

 Roxburgh observes, that the temperature of the winter season 

 is not sufficiently low to allow the substance to congeal. This 

 seems also to be the case in Canton province, where the sub- 

 stance is mixed with animal tallow, and thus fabricated. I have 

 been informed that the tree is found in our northern terri- 

 tories, where there would seem to be no obstacle to prevent 

 the substance from being applied to oeconomical purposes and 

 as a useful vehicle for ointments, but I am not aware of such 

 experiments having been tried. 



The cotton plant (with white flowers) succeeds very well, 

 and is grown in many places, but to a very limited extent, 

 and solely for the use of the cultivators ; and such is also the 

 case with tobacco. Small plantations of Elceococcus Vernicia, 

 Juss., are seen here and there. The varnish it yields, al- 

 though of inferior quality, is in great demand for furniture, 

 and indeed for all the frame- work of the houses. 



On the sides of the hills, where the scantiness of soil or the 

 steepness is such as not to admit the plough, oaks and pines 

 are raised for fuel : either attain to but a small size. The oak, 

 I am informed by Mr. Griffith, is very like one which he dis- 

 covered in the Khasyah Hills. The leaves resemble those of 

 Quercus infectoria, while the sessile flowers approximate it to 

 Q. sessiflora. A few very fine large junipers are seen in gar- 

 dens. Firewood, vegetable and mineral coals, as well as tim- 

 ber, form articles of importation. 

 The agricultural implements at Chusan are of a description 



