BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS, P.G.S., <kc. 785 



has now even in the most remote villages, this oil and cocoa-nut 

 oil supplied all purposes of illumination ; but it is now almost 

 entirely superseded. It is a beautiful pale yellow color. In 

 India it is called Katamanak. Bhoga bhirinda i.s an inferior 

 kind of oil from the same source. It has been of late years 

 imported into Britain as a substitute for linseed oil. It answers 

 equally well, and cdn be obtained from India at a price far below 

 linseed. Quantities of the seed have also been imported into 

 Liverpool from the Cape Verde Islands. It seems to have met 

 with considerable favor wherever it has been tried. The Cliinese 

 boil this oil with oxide of iron, and employ it for varnishing 

 boxes. 



230. Jatropha manhiot, L. Manihoc or Maniot or Tapioca is 

 not extensively cultivated in the Islands. When travelling in 

 the interior of the Malay Peninsula, one of my principal sources 

 of subsistence was the roots of the maniot boiled like potatoes. 

 They were exceedingly nourishing and palatable, the flavour 

 being something between the sweet and the common potato. 

 Being of large size and cheap, they were a most useful article of 

 food, especially where vegetables are so scarce. The only precau- 

 tion necessary to get rid of the poisonous juice was to carefully 

 peel and boil them. The maniot is extensively cultivated in the 

 Malacca state, and in Brunei, Borneo, but lately it does not pay. 



231. Croton caudatus, Geisel. It is supposed that there are 

 eight or ten species of this interesting genus in the Philippines. 



232. Acalypha indica, L. Of this genus there are about ten 

 or a dozen species in the Philippines. They are unimportant, 

 except one or two species with variegated leaves. A. indica, an 

 annual Indian weed like a nettle, is said to attract cats like 

 Valerian. A decoction of the leaves is used as a purgative. 



233. Mallotus philippinensis, Muell. Arg. A tree with a 

 ferruginous tomentum on the ends of the branches, which is said 

 to be a powerful vermifuge. It is widely spread throughout the 

 East, and very common in North Queensland. 



