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 
