THE PALM FAMILY. 



149 



and yearly produces bunches of fruit 2 or 3 feet long, and 

 as mucli in circumference. The fruits are about the size of 

 walnuts, having a red rind, which envelopes a pulpy matter 

 and a hard nut. The fleshy part is separated, and after 

 boiling and skimming, the "palm oil" of commerce is ob- 

 tained, shiploads of it being imported to this country for 

 the purpose of candle-making; it is also used in the manu- 

 facture of soap. The yellow grease used for the carriage 

 wheels on railways is this substance. The nut is also crushed, 

 and yields oil, the refuse being made into " oil-cake" for 

 cattle feeding ; in its fresh state it is used by the natives for 

 butter. It is believed that this palm will ultimately prove a 

 powerful agent in changing the political and social condi- 

 tion of the negro race, the kings and chiefs finding it more 

 advantageous to employ their subjects in collecting and 

 preparing the oil, than in selling them as slaves. Several 

 other palms jield oil, as Attalea Cohune^ a native of Central 

 America. 



Most oils contain a principle called the " sweet of oil," 

 which when chemically separated forms the transparent oily 

 substance glycerine. In this country it is chiefly obtainedj 

 from palm oils and Japanese wax; its antiseptic and preH 

 servative powers have brought it into use for preserving soft 

 animal and vegetable substances for culinary and many other 

 purposes. It is also used medicinally, and its emollient and 

 slow evaporating nature renders it useful in skin diseases, 

 and also in the preparation of cosmetic perfumes. 



W?i'K.Va}m. (^Ceroxylon andicold). A native ofthemoun 

 tainous regions of New Granada, where it ascends nearly to 

 the snow line, forming forests which may be compared to the 

 fir forests of more northern latitudes. It is a tall growing 

 palm, bearing a crown of winged leaves 15 or 20 feet long. 

 The whole plant is of a grey colour, its trunk being coated 

 with a resinous wax, which is collected by scraping, and forms 

 an article of commerce amongst the natives. The wax is made 

 into candles, which are presented as offerings to their saints 

 and the Vii'gin. It is but little known in this country. 



