232 



THE COCOANUT PALM. 



are its points of congelation and density. It solidifies at 18°. Taking 

 the mean of the three following averages, the weight may be easily 



ascertained : 





Degrees. 



Density. 



Weight of Hecto- 

 litre. 







25 

 30 

 35 



0-9188 

 0-9150 

 0-9116 



kilos. 

 91-880 

 91-500 

 91-166 





Vast quantities of the oil are burned in lamps throughout the whole 

 Indian Ai'chipelago and the Pacific Isles. A tumbler half filled with 

 water has oil poured in to the brim. Two lighted sticks are the 

 wicks, which burn brilliantly. Every native glories in a display of 

 lamps in the house and about the grounds at the approach of night. 

 When first taken out of the boiling pot the oil has a rich flavour, but 

 soon becomes rancid. So copious is the supply, however, it can always 

 be had fresh and sweet for the table. Like olive oil in Syria, it is 

 butter, lard, or oil, according to circumstances, in cookery. Soap is 

 made with it, lamps supplied, leather dressed, hair and skin anointed, 

 and cosmetics are fabricated for beautifying the homely faces of 

 women. 



The following have been the imports of cocoanut oil into the 

 United Kingdom in the last quarter of a century : 



Cwts. 



1840 42,428 



1841 38,262 



1842 49,742 



1843 67,610 



1844 87,866 



1845 42,974 



1846 48,322 



1847 32,513 



1848 85,453 



1849 64,452 



1850 98,040 



1851 55,994 



1852 101,863 



1853 164,196 



1854 208,827 



1855 252,550 



1856 130,690 



1857 207,239 



1858 197,788 



Cwts. 



1859 184,758 



1860 194,309 



1861 274,992 



1862 170,485 



1863 320,180 



1864 375,218 



1865 190,228 



1866 110,046 



1867 124,314 



J 868 194,752 



1869 264,365 



1870 198,602 



1871 190,492 



1872 433,883 



1873 266,798 



1874 137,374 



1875 219,925 



1876 199,431 



Oil MacMnery. — The manufacture of cocoanut oil may be very 

 profitably combined with the preparation of the fibre in one factory. 



The following machines and apparatus are necessary for producing 

 the oil : 



Improved circular cutting machines, for reducing the kernel to 

 small thin slices or shavings. 



Edge stone runners for grinding down the kernel to pulp. 



