176 



KAYU-PUTEH OIL. 



opinion, that a much larger quantity of this oil 

 might be obtained from the foliage of the Aus- 

 tralian Eucalypti-trees; more especially those 

 which have opposite, rounded, and whitish 

 leaves ; the oil produced by them being in consi- 

 derable quantity. On taking and rubbing the 

 leaves of this Malaleiica it would be very difficult 

 to distinguish it in odour from those of the Euca- 

 lypti, occasioned by the oil contained in them ; 

 this valuable oil may therefore, at but little ex- 

 pense, be distilled in any quantity in the colony 

 of New South Wales ; the genuine oil cannot be 

 purchased at Singapore at a cheaper rate than 

 from two and a half to three dollars for a bottle, 

 which contains about a pint of the oil ; but there 

 is a large quantity of an adulterated article very 

 generally sold by the natives at this settlement. 

 The tree, which I felt some interest in examin- 

 ing, was about twelve feet high, branchy, and 

 was at this time both in flower and fruit ; the 

 bark was smooth and velvety, and appeared to 

 be deciduous, similar in character to that which 

 I have remarked in the Malaleuca or tea-tree of 

 New South Wales.* 



Across the creek, at the upper part of the 



settlement and near the splendid and extensive 



pile of buildings, the residence of E. Boustead, 



* See my observations on the Kaye-puteh-oil, vol. i. p. 166. 



