COCOA-NUT TREE. 331 



domestic economy, besides being an excellent 

 burning oil, (for which it is much admired, 

 giving out neither smoke nor smell when burning, 

 and having a clear bright flame,) it has since 

 had an additional value, and more extended 

 use at home, by the discovery of its capabilit}^ of 

 being manufactured into candles, rivalling wax 

 or spermaceti, at the same time without being 

 much higher in price than those of tallow. Soap 

 has also been manufactured from it ; and it is 

 lavished by the Asiatics, Polynesians, and other 

 intertropical natives, over their persons, and at 

 Tongatabu, and other of the Polynesian islands, 

 is used scented with sandal-wood and odoriferous 

 flowers, giving a delightful fragrance to the 

 flowing tresses and elegant persons of the dark 

 beauties of those fascinating islands. In cold 

 weather, (similar to most of the vegetable oils,) 

 tliis oil becomes very hafd, and requires to be 

 melted before it can be used for burning. 



The singular method of making the oil is very 

 simple. The nut having been removed from the 

 shell, is boiled in water for a short period ; it is 

 then pounded in a large mortar, taken out, and 

 pressed. The milk, as it is called, is then boiled 

 over a slow fire, when the oil floats on the top, 

 which being skimmed ofl*, and afterwards boiled 

 by itself, two quarts of oil may be procured from 



