1866.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 73 



the quick distillation of coal for illuminating gas. They are found in 

 many quarters of the globe, — in Burmah, on the shores of the Cas- 

 pian, in North America, and in numerous other places, and consist of 

 a mixture of many oily compounds varying in degrees of fluidity and 

 volatility as also in their relation to chemical agents. Certain of them 

 can be removed by the action of strong acids and alkalies, which .form 

 coagula in solutions : the matter remaining is composed of a mixture 

 of oily substances, compounds of Carbon and Hydrogen, all of pretty 

 nearly the same composition, but of different degrees of density and 

 volatility. When distilled, the lighter and more volatile portions come 

 over first ; the denser and less volatile last. If the latter portions be 

 exposed to cold, a solid substance crystallizes which can be freed from 

 the liquid oils by pressure — cold and warm — and purified by chemical 

 processes. This solid substance is the Paraffin. 



" When pure, Paraffin is a white, translucent,_crystalline, brittle sub- 

 stance ; so friable indeed, that it can be powdered even in this climate. 

 In these respects, it differs considerably from wax, of which these ear 

 rings and candle were at first supposed to be composed ; as also by 

 fusing at a somewhat lower temperature. The most striking point of 

 difference is the absence of plasticity in Paraffin, a property which 

 renders bees- wax so valuable. 



" In a scientific point of view, the subject of greatest interest, con- 

 nected with these substances, is their origin. Application was made to 

 Mr. Avdall, who presented them, through Mr. Long, but no informa- 

 tion could be obtained on the point in question. But, as I stated at 

 the time, I had examined specimens of a similar material which had 

 been found in the surface of the ground in some parts of Burmah ; and 

 there can be little doubt that the Paraffin had been separated from the 

 petroleum by the slow operation of heat, atmospheric oxygen and water, 

 and possibly some constituents of the soil, affording another instance 

 amongst a host of others, in which the changes which are effected by 

 the Chemist in the laboratory or in the factory by powerful agents, 

 in hours or days, are brought about by nature by the operation of 

 the feeblest chemical agencies extended over years or centuries." 



Letters were read — 



1. From Babu Rakhal Doss Haldar, Deputy Collector, Manbhoom, 

 Purulia, through Col. Dalton, two letters on some old temples near the 

 Barakar river. 



