88 



The demand for insect wax i- principally i'or the exterior coating of 

 the candles in common use. Though beeswax is abundant and cheap 

 at Kiu-hua, insect wax is found to be more economical for this purpose. 

 The introduction of kerosene, while it has reduced the consumption 

 of rapeseed oil in these pan.-, has not effected the sale of candles, 

 these being employed for celebrations, such as feasts, religious obser- 

 vances, and the like, and for lanterns, which are carried by every one out 

 after dark. 



Another very general purpose for which it is employed is in sizing 

 certain kinds of paper in common use for notes and visiting cards, with 

 the object of giving them a lustrous appearance. 



At T'ai-chou-fu an industry is carried on for the manufacture of light 

 articles of Chinese furniture. These are made from the wood of the 

 weeping cypres- (('tt],n>ss)<s Fort unci). After being smoothed with the 

 dry sheath of a certain rush they are polished with insect wax. 



At Amoy years ago many of the inner surfaces of the walls of 

 European houses were coated with shell lime, to which a very smooth 

 surface was given. This was then stained by being washed with some 

 colour, not distemper, and when dry I "o ax. The walls 



thus treated stood the climate well, and were found preferable to those 

 lime-washed or oil-painted, as having a brighter appearance, while at 

 the same time they were more cleanly. 



Women employ the wax as a fixatrice for their hair, chemists as a 

 component of plaisters and a coating for pills, though for these purpos< - 

 bleached beeswax is frequently used. I cannot find that here it is 

 applied to wove materials of any kind, 



I have preferred retailing the results of my own observation and 

 inquiry, to furnishing the elaborate report that appears called for in 

 Mr. Currie's despatch, as I have not access to much that has been 

 written on the subject, nor have I the. leisure or means for spending so 

 much time away from my consular duties in t in- insect wax country as 

 to fit me to write an exhaustive monograph. 



Apart from this, in treating such a subject I need the science of a 

 trained observer to make it worth my own or another's while for me to 

 devote so much time and work as such a task would require; neither 

 can I look to the natives for assistance, as their knowledge of natural 

 history is as limited as their credulity and appetite for the marvellous 

 are unbounded. I trust, however, thai the practical information now 

 supplied by me may be found of some value. 



I append a list of prices ruling at this port during the last six years, 

 whereby were compiled the quarterly returns of the maritime customs. 

 The tables from which this list is extracted are drawn up with great 



The specimens asked lor I am sending direct to Ivew Gardens, such 

 of them, that is, as ! have been able to collect as yet. I hope in the 

 autumn 1o obtain twigs coated with the wax and seeds to complete the 



I have, &c. 

 (Signed) Wm. M. Cooper. 

 Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State, 

 for Foreign Affairs. 



