CANES. 



305 



with a skin so full of silica^ that it is occasionally used to 

 poHsh furniture, woods, and metals. Formerly it was of 

 great importance for that purpose, but the invention of sand 

 and emery papers has almost superseded this natural file. 



Canes. — Under this general designation the stems of 

 several different plants are imported for various purposes, 

 chiefly as walking-sticks. - The walking-canes are princi- 

 pally— 



The Malacca Cane [Calamus Zalacca, Nat. Ord. Palma- 

 cece), which are highly prized; they are of all thicknesses 

 up to an inch in diameter, jointed like the common rattan, 

 but with the joints so far apart that a good walking-cane 

 can be made of a single internode ; these canes are of a 

 rich reddish-brown colour, and as shining as if varnished. 

 The brown tint is communicated by a process of smoking. 

 They are imported from China and the East Indies. 



Partridge Canes are the stems of some small Palm, with 

 the exterior removed, and the hard wood pohshed; they 

 resemble sticks of porcupine-wood, and are chiefly used as 

 handles for umbrellas, etc. 



Penang Lawyers are also the stems of a species of Palm, 

 but which one is a matter of uncertainty ; they are said to 

 be produced by a species of Calamus, 



