366 DICTIONARY OF POPULAR NAMES SANDAL 



kept burning before tlieir idols. Other species of Santalum 

 furnish Sandal- wood. On the discovery of Sandal -wood in 

 the Polynesian Islands shiploads were taken to China and to 

 Europe, so that in many islands the trees have become extir- 

 pated, and the chiefs consider a piece of Sandal-wood a valuable 

 present to a visitor. Unfortunately the clandestine cutting 

 down of trees and the unfair dealings with the natives so irri- 

 tated them against white men that much bloodshed has on both 

 sides been the result. A case of this kind led to the unfortu- 

 nate murder of the celebrated missionary, the Eev. Mr. Williams, 

 and his colleague at the island Eromango in the year 1839. 

 Fancy articles are made of the wood, which are highly esteemed 

 among the Chinese as presents. An oil is extracted and used 

 as a perfume. The Sandal-wood tree of Fiji is a distinct species 

 described as S. yasi, the fruit of which resembles a black currant. 

 The Sandwich Island tree is also considered distinct, known 

 under the name of S. Freycinetianum. Sandal-^vood trees have 

 been supposed by some writers to be the almug and algum 

 trees used in the building of Solomon's Temple, but their 

 fragrance not being mentioned and the known smallness of the 

 tree render such vie^vs problematical. (See my History of Bible 

 Plants.) 



Sandal-wood, False. — In the Bombay Presidency the wood 

 of Ximenict americana is used as a substitute for true Sandal- 

 wood. It is a small tree of the Olax family (Olacaceae). It is 

 found in many parts of the tropics ; its flowers are very fragrant, 

 smelling of cloves ; the fruit is oblong, pulpy, yellow, about an 

 inch in length, and is eaten by the natives in various parts. In 

 Crete the wood of an oak (Quercus abelicca) is called Sandal- wood; 

 it is of a reddish colour and has an agreeable perfume. Another 

 false Sandal-wood is Myoporum tenuifolium, a small tree of the 

 family Myoporacese, native of Otaheite ; it attains a height of 15 

 to 20 feet, with a cfirth of 3 to 4 feet. The heart-wood differs 

 according to the age of the tree, from yellow to red, and con- 

 tains an essential oil, which is fragrant, but not equal to the true 

 Sandal-wood oil. 



