TIMBER. 359 



Zealand kowrie-gum has for years past fetched at public 

 sales in London from 14s. to 16s. the cwt. In consequence, 

 however, of the rebellion in New Zealand, it gradually 

 advanced in 1860 to from 25s. to 28s. ; in the spring of 

 1861 it was quoted at from 18s. to 20s., and it will no 

 doubt ultimately be sold again at its former prices. The 

 Fijians principally use the gum for glazing pots (vaka- 

 makadretaka), the substance being put on while the 

 vessels are yet very hot, and for burning. The older it 

 gets the better it burns. At first it is of a light whitish 

 colour, but becomes more and more that of amber, as 

 well as transparent with age. The natives, fearing de- 

 mons, ghosts, and other creations of their wild fancy, are 

 always anxious to be housed before sunset, and when 

 compelled to venture out in the dark or when benighted, 

 set up loud yells to drive away evil spirits, and light a 

 torch made either of the resin of the Dakua (bound 

 round with rushes), the stem of the Wavuwavu (Erigeron 

 albidum, A. Gray), the trunk of the bamboo, or the flower- 

 stalks of the cocoa-nut palm. In the smaller islands and 

 certain coast-districts of Vanua Levu and Viti Levu, 

 lamps fed with cocoa-nut oil are common ; but in the 

 interior of the principal islands, where that oil is an im- 

 ported article difficult to obtain, the resin of the Dakua 

 is burnt, either in the form of pastiles about two inches 

 long, or in ribbon-like strips surrounded by slips of wood, 

 so as to constitute a kind of candle. When burnt in the 

 first-mentioned way, the resin is protected by crocks from 

 running about and igniting the Pandanus matting or 

 other inflammable materials of the houses. A dye ob- 

 tained from the smoke of the burning resin is used for 



