WAX TREE. 
270 
and prepare this substance is described by M.Toscan 
in the following manner : 
“ Towards the end of autumn, when the berries 
are ripe, a man quits his house, with his family, 
and betakes himself to some island, or spot on the 
sea-coast, where the wax-trees grow in abundance. 
He carries with him pots for boiling the berries, 
and a hatchet for building a cabin to shelter him 
during his residence there, which usually continues 
three or four weeks ; he then fells trees and con- 
structs a hut, whilst his children gather the berries. 
A tree tolerably productive yields about seven 
pounds. When a sufficient quantity of berries is 
collected, the family employs itself in extracting 
the wax. A certain portion of the berries is put 
into the pot, and a sufficient quantity of water is 
poured on them, till it covers them for about six 
inches. The whole is then put on the fire and 
boiled ; the berries being stirred, and pressed from 
time to time against the sides of the vessel in 
order to detach the wax from them. Soon after, it 
is seen floating on the surface in the form of grease, 
which is collected with a spoon, and strained 
through a coarse cloth, to separate any impurities 
that may be mixed with it. When these berries 
cease to yield any more wax, they are removed 
with a ladle, and fresh ones put into the same 
water. The same process is then repeated ; and 
when a certain quantity of wax has been thus ob- 
tained, it is put to drain on a piece of linen, in 
order to separate the water which may be mixed 
