LIGNUM SANTALI. 603 



the temperature quickly rose to 255°, the oil acquiring a darker hue. 

 Oil of sandal wood varies much in the strength and character of its 

 aroma, according to the sort of wood from which it is produced. 



The oil as largely prepared by Messrs. Schimmel k Co., in a column 

 100 millimetres long, deviates the plane of polarization 18-6° to the left. 

 Oil of Venezuela sandal wood, from the same distillers, examined in the 

 same manner, deviates 6°'75 to the right. 



From the wood, treated with boiling alcohol, we obtained about 

 7 per cent, of a blackish extract, from which a tannate was precipitated 

 by alcoholic solution of acetate of lead. Decomposed by sulphuretted 

 hydrogen, the tannate yielded a tannic acid having but little colour, and 

 striking a greenish hue with a ferric salt. The extract also contained a 

 dark resin. 



Commerce — The greatest ti'ade in sandal wood is in China, which 

 country in the year 1866 imported at the fourteen treaty ports then open 

 87,321 peculs, equivalent to 5,197 tons; of this vast quantity the city of 

 Hankow on the river Yangtsze, received no less than 61,414 peculs, or 

 more than seven times as much as any other port.^ The imports into 

 Hankow have recently been much smaller, namely, 14,989 peculs in 1871 

 and 12,798 peculs in 1872.^ On the other hand, Shanghai lying near 

 the mouth of the same great river, imported in 1872, 59,485 peculs of 

 sandal wood, the estimated value of which was about £100,000. In 

 1877 the imports of all China were 72,934 peculs. 



A considerable trade in sandal wood is done in Bombay, the quantity 

 imported thither annually being about 650 tons, and the annual export 

 about 400 tons.^ 



Oil of sandal wood is largely manfactured on the ghats between 

 Mangalore and Mysore, where fuel for the stills is abundant. Official 

 returns^ represent the quantity of the oil imported into Bombay in 

 the year 1872-73 as 10,348 lbs., value £8,374; 4,500 lbs. were re-exported 

 by sea. 



Uses — The essential oil has of late been prescribed as a substitute 

 for copaiba, otherwise sandal wood has hardly any uses in modern 

 European medicine. It is employed as a perfume and for the fabri- 

 cation of small articles of ornament. Among the natives of India 

 it is largely consumed in the celebration of sepulchral rites, wealthy 

 Hindus showing their respect for a departed relative by adding sticks of 

 sandal wood to the funereal pile. The powder of the wood made into a 

 paste with water is used for making the caste mark, and also for medicinal 

 purposes. The consumption of sandal wood in China appears to be 

 principally for the incense used in the temples. 



* Reports on Trade at the ports in China China for 1871 (p. 50) and 1872 (pp. 62. 



open to foreign trade for 1866, published by 159). 



order of the Inspector-General of Customs, * From the official document quoted at 



Shanghai, 1867. 120. 121.— One pecul p. 601, note 1. 



= 133 J lb. * See p. 333, note 3. 



- Commercial Beports of H.M. Consnh in 



