WAX-TREE. 311 



them to report more particularly on the nature and qualities of this 

 interesting tree j we may therefore hope that information will soon 

 be obtained whether the article can be procured in abundance, and 

 at a reasonable price; in which case it will become a valuable addi- 

 tion to the comforts of mankind, by reducing the price and improv- 

 ing the quality of candles, flambeaux, &c. 



The article, in the state in which it was sent, resembles much that 

 described by Humboldt, as the produce of the ceroxylon andicola; 

 but it is not likely to be the same, as Humboldt's wax is collected 

 from a stately palm tree, which grows on the high mountains, from 

 $00 to 1450 toises above the level of the sea, and on the edge of 

 the regions of perpetual snow. On the other hand, the Brazilian 

 plant is described as a slow growing tree, but not as a large one, 

 and there are uo high mountains delineated in the most accurate 

 and recent maps of the capiteneas where it is found. But a more 

 decisive argument against their identity is the analysis of Vauquelin, 

 published by Humboldt, which shows, that the produce of the 

 ceroxylon consists of two-thirds resin and only one third wax ; but 

 the Brazilian article is entirely wax, and affords not the smallest 

 trace of resin. The Brazilian plant, however, was not entirely un- 

 known to Humboldt, for it appears from bis book, that Mr. Correa 

 had informed him, that a palm, called carnauba by the natives of 

 Brazil, produced wax from its leaves. 



The wax, in its rough state, is in the form of a coarse pale grey 

 powder, soft to the touch, and mixed with various impurities, con- 

 sisting chiefly of fibres of the bark of the tree, which, when se- 

 parated by a sieve, amount to about forty per cent. It possesses 

 the following characters, according to the analysis of Mr. Brande, 

 as given in the Phil. Trans, for 181], 



It has an agreeable odour, somewhat resembling new hay, but 

 scarcely any taste. 



" At 260 Fahrenheit it enters iuto perfect fusion, and in this state 

 it may be further purified, by passing it through flue linen. By 

 this process, it acquires a dirty green colour, and its peculiar smell 

 becomes more evident. When cold, it is moderately hard and 

 brittle. Its specific gravity is 0*980. 



2. ' Water exerts no action on the wax, unless boiled with it for 

 some hours ; it then acquires a slight brown tinge, and the peculiar 

 odour of the wax. 



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