FROM THE SOCIETY 1SLAXDS. 87 



One hundred grammes of Tamanu oil, into which 2 grammes of con- 

 centrated sulphuric acid were poured, and shaken quickly in a flask for 

 a quarter of an hour, became of an orange colour. The resinous and 

 the viscous matter formed a deposit thick and sticky, of a reddish brown 

 colour. If 30 grammes of hot water are added and the mixture shaken, 

 the oil becomes of a clear yellow, and resembles tbe yellow of an egg. 

 After standing for 24 hours, the mixture separates into three layers ; the 

 lower is formed by the deposit of the middle layer of acidulated water, 

 and the third of oil. This oil, when poured off, is shaken with a new 

 quantity of warm water ; and after this operation has been performed 

 for ten minutes, it is left to stand, they pour it off again, filter it, and 

 the result is the oil purified and in a fit state for use. 



The oil of Tamanu is useful for many industries, especially when it 

 has been cleared of the green resinous matter which colours it, and 

 which it retains in solution. It can be used in the manufacture of 

 soap, in painting, and enters into the composition of some kinds of 

 varnish. The soap obtained from it is of a yellowish green, aromatic, 

 and of an excellent quality. 



Experiments have been tried with paint in one instance, made with 

 oil in its natural state, and in another with oil that had been previously 

 boiled. In both cases the paint tried on new doors was completely dry 

 in twelve hours. 



Experiments have also been made to ascertain the fitness of the oil 

 for sharpening tools made of steeL A number of graving tools were 

 sharpened, and others, with the aid of water alone, or of cocoa-nut oil, 

 which is sometimes used for that purpose. 



After they had been marked those tools were given to workmen for 

 trial, and, according to their accounts, those which had been sharpened 

 with the oil of Tamanu remained sharp for a longer time than the others. 

 This is a new merit which deserves to be taken into consideration. 

 Ainslie pretends that this oil has soothing properties, and that it can 

 be used in embrocations, in rheumatic attacks, and especially in gout. 

 Formerly the Tahitians used the resin of Tamanu for their "mouoi," 

 which cosmetic is certainly held in great esteem at Tahiti, but the 

 resin does not enter into its composition. Cocoa-nut oil is the priir 

 cipal ingredient, and as it is seldom fresh, it communicates to the 

 hair an odour strong and disagreeable to which everybody cannot be- 

 come accustomed. 



The Calopliyllum Inophyllum prefers damp soils. It is found at 

 Tahiti from the border of the sea to the valleys, where it spreads, and 

 often near streams. The seeds which fall on the soil nearly always ger- 

 minate ; there is no necessity for increasing them, to do anything except 

 protect their development. We have gathered seeds that have sprouted 

 and young plants at Faa, just on the sea coast, in a soil that was muddy 

 and impregnated with salt water. Formerly the tree was exceedingly 

 abundant ; there were numbers of large forests at many points of the 



