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used by the Hindoos and Parsees in their religious ceremonies; but 
the greatest part of the latter is reserved for the China markets, 
where it sells to great advantage. 
The sandal is a. beautiful tree; the branches regular and taper- 
ing; the leaf like the narrow willow, shorter, and delicately soft; 
the blossoms hang in bunches of small dowers, either red or white, 
according to the colour of the wood: the fruit is small, and valu- 
able only for its seed: the tree thrives in a hilly rocky situation, 
and there produces wood of the finest grain, and strongest scent: 
on low land, and a richer soil, it degenerates, and is in all respects 
less esteemed. 
It is often extremely difficult, as well as dangerous, to transport 
merchandize over Qnore bar, on account of a tremendous surf: 
1 never thought myself in such imminent danger as in attempting 
a passage through these surges: a little before my arrival, a young 
gentleman in the Company’s civil service was overset in a ship’s 
boat, and all perished! We took the advantage of the land wind 
at midnight to return to the vessel, when the surf was moderate. 
I am not sufficiently conversant with the cause and effect of 
the land and sea breezes which so generally prevail during the fair 
season on the Malabar-coast. The Oriental Voyager assigns the 
most probable reason for the regularity of these periodical winds; 
although, in my opinion, not entirely satisfactory; as they seem to 
prevail equally along the whole extent of the Malabar coast, whe- 
ther mountainous or Hat. 
64 It is well known that from the time the sun begins to emerge 
above the eastern horizon, until he gains his meridian altitude, the 
earth is gradually acquiring a temperature above that of the sea. 
