39 



November 13, 1848. 

 J. B. YATES, Esq., in the Chair. 

 Mr. Edward Higgin was elected a Member of the Society. 



Mr. Archer exhibited a bundle of Eibrous Material pro- 

 cured from the leaves of the Eourcroya Nobilis, an aloe-like 

 plant, which grows very abundantly in St. Helena. 



Also a specimen of Lace made from the Fibre. 



Exhibited specimens of Hayesine or Terborate of Lime from 

 Peru. It was a dead white substance, supposed at one time 

 to be a pure form of guano, under winch impression many 

 tons had been imported. Its analysis proved it to consist of 

 a large proportion of boracic acid and lime : boracic acid 

 46.111 ; lime 18.889; water 35. ^ c. ; or 3 equivalents of 

 boracic acid, 1 of lime, and 6 of water. 



Mr. Waldie exhibited some natural and artificial products 

 from the west coast of South America. 



One was a crystalline, fibrous, white silky looking mass, 

 soluble in water, and consisted of sulphate of alumina and 

 water, with a small quantity of sulphate of soda, and traces of 

 common salt. 



Another was a pulverulent substance, consisting of nodules 

 of a rather soft fibrous matter mixed with an earthy pow- 

 der. It was found, by analysis, to contain boracic acid, sul- 

 phuric acid, soda, lime alumina, sand, water, common salt, 

 and a little iodate of soda. It appeared indeed to be a mix- 

 ture of the mineral called hayesine with the sulphate of 

 alumina first noticed, and sulphate of lime and soda with sand. 



A third was crystallized borax, nearly pure. 



