284 A MISSION TO VITI. 



pendicularly the fibres of the Vau. After the macerated 

 kernels have been placed in the midst, a pole made fast 

 to the lower end of the fibres, and two men taking hold 

 of its end, twist the contrivance round and round till 

 the oil, collecting into a wooden bowl standing under- 

 neath, has been extracted. Of course, the pressure thus 

 brought to bear upon the pounded kernels is not suffi- 

 ciently great to allow every particle of oil to escape, and 

 with the proper machinery the waste would amount to 

 little indeed. 



The candle-nut (Aleurites triloba, Forst.), termed 

 " Lauci," " Sikeci," and " Tuitui," in the various dialects 

 of Fiji, contains a great deal of oil, of which, however, 

 the natives make only a limited use for polishing, though 

 in other parts of Polynesia lamps are fed with it, and in 

 the Hawaiian islands the entire kernels are strung on a 

 stick and lighted as candles. The fruit is better known 

 as a dye, and plays an important part at the birth of 

 a child; for no sooner is a baby born than the mid- 

 wife rushes to the Lauci to gather a fruit fresh from the 

 tree, which she places in the mouth of the interesting 

 young stranger, with the conviction that its milky juice 

 will clear the throat, and more effectually enable it to 

 announce its welcome arrival. Mr. Wilson, the manag- 

 ing director of Price's Patent Candle Company, at Vaux- 

 hall, writes to me : " The oil of the Aleurites triloba is 

 fine and hard, worth at least as much as sesame or rape 

 oil, in this market. It is held very lightly in its matrix, 

 and should be pressed where grown. If the ' nuts ' were 

 brought home in their shells, the freight would be ex- 

 pensive ; and if shelled, insects would eat them." The 



