CASSIA. 421 



twigs of the cassia plant, probably together with various 

 refuse products worthless for other purpose." 



In a pamphlet by H. Schroeter, Hong-Kong, entitled, " Eeport 

 on a Journey to Kwang-si," the writer reports from personal 

 observation the following particulars of the manufacture of Cassia 

 oil:— 



" The shrubs destined for the production of the Cassia Lignea 

 proper are partly stripped during the summer months of their 

 minor branches and exceptionally juicy leaves. They are then 

 conveyed in large bundles into the valley, where they are boiled in 

 large vessels. From the aromatic juice thus obtained, the esteemed 

 Cassia Oil is recovered by means of a most primitive distilling 

 apparatus. As the Li-kin stations on the road to Canton levy an 

 excessive duty upon the oil, in addition to that exacted by the 

 Imperial Customs, the oil is carried in tins across the hills to 

 Pakhoi and thence transported via Macao to Hong-Kong, instead 

 of reaching Canton by the water-way intended by nature for its 

 conveyance." The centre of the Cassia production is described as 

 consisting of the Tai-Wo and Yung-Shun, districts in the province 

 of Kwang-Si, and the prefecture of Lo-Ting in the province of 

 KwanfT-TuuCT. 



The great differences observable in Chinese cassia oil (even wdien 

 unadulterated) are probably due to having been distilled from 

 different parts of the shrub or from another variety of the species 

 Cinnamomum. Some samples have recently been imported into 

 Germany, which contained a very low percentage of cinnamic alde- 

 hyde, 43, 44 and 46 per cent, only instead of 80 per cent., but yet, 

 all these oils were of thin consistency and pale yellow colour, not 

 differing in any w^ay in appearance from the best commercial 

 qualities, and they could not be proved to be grossly adulterated w^ith 

 resin, fixed oil or petroleum.* The Chinese maintain that such 

 oils are perfectly pure and that they are always produced when 

 fresh, imperfectly ripe raw material is used. This contention 

 cannot be absolutely denied, as possibly a considerable proportion of 

 aceto-cinnamic ether is present in the very young leaves, from which, 

 in the course ef the maturing process, cinnamic aldehyde may be 

 formed by oxidation. 



* Scliimniel & Co., Bericht., April, 1893. 



