— 73 — 
Sandalwood Oil, West Indian. The distillation - waters of 
West Indian sandalwood oil also yield on cohobation a yellow-coloured 
first fraction containing alcohol, in which methyl alcohol, diacetyl and 
furfurol could be detected in the manner repeatedly described. 
Savin Oil. On a previous occasion we have already mentioned 
that the first runnings of savin oil contain diacetyl; methyl alcohol, 
and furfurol, bodies w^hich usually occur along with this compound, 
could at that time, however, not be detected. 
We have now been able to isolate all these three compounds, in 
considerable quantities, from the cohobation waters of savin oil. The 
identification took place in the usual manner. 
Spearmint Oil. At the present time America controls the market 
of this oil completely, as for many years there has been no question 
of a German production. The prices, which have risen about lOO per cent., 
must be paid, w^iether one likes it or not. For the rest, everything 
depends on the result of the distillation in the coming autumn. 
Spike Oil. This oil is in the same position as oils of lavender 
and rosemary, but wdth this difference, that here the advance in the 
prices is about half-way betw^een the other two. As our buyer called 
our attention in good time to the critical situation, we were able to 
secure large parcels before the rise asserted itself to its full extent; 
and we are now in a position to supply our clients in an excellent 
manner. The stocks in the hands of producers are practically 
exhausted. 
Star-anise Oil. Since the date of our last Report, efforts have 
repeatedly been made in China to drive up the prices, but these have 
met with no response. In fact, it cannot have escaped the attentive 
observer, that since several years the speculative spirit for such like 
articles has disappeared, a spirit which in previous years asserted itself 
at every opportunity, especially on the London and New York markets. 
A year seldom passed by without more or less important fluctuations 
in the prices of Chinese oils. The cause of this disinclination may 
possibly be this, that the production of star-anise oil has increased, 
but the consumption has declined owing to the competition of anethol. 
The Chinese exports cannot be ascertained, as the statistics give 
star-anise oil not by itself, but jointly with cassia oil. 
The shipments from Tonquin in 1902 were: 
1050 cases ex Pakhoi 
620 „ „ Haiphong 
Total 1670 cases of 30 kilos each. 
') Report October 1900, 62. 
