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 
: al ial 
