Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
May,  18S6. 
Oil  of  Sandal  Wood. 
257 
corals  {Fungia)}  As  soon  as  the  existence  of  sandal  wood  in  Fiji  be- 
came known  to  European  traders,  it  was  speedily  carried  away  to  the 
Chinese  and  Polynesian  markets,  so  that  in  1816  there  was  scarcely 
enough  left  for  home  consumption,  and  to  saye  the  tree  from  extinction, 
one  was  planted  in  the  gardens  of  the  Mission  Station  at  Bua,  in 
Yanua  Levu,  the  island  where  it  was  most  abundant.  From  this  tree 
Dr.  Seemann  obtained  the  specimens  used  for  illustrating  the  plant  in 
'  Flora  Vitiensis.'  In  1840  the  tree  was  so  rare  that  even  the  Fijians 
paid  fancy  prices  for  pieces  of  the  wood.  The  interior  of  these  islands 
has,  however,  not  been  thoroughly  explored,  so  that  it  is  possible  some 
trees  may  yet  be  found  there. 
Santalum  austro-caledonicum,  Yiell. — The  sandal  wood  of  this  tree 
was  obtained  from  Mare  in  1841,  and  from  Vate  in  1843.  In  Xew 
Caledonia  it  is  known  to  the  natives  as  Tibean.  The  natural  w^oocls 
having  been  nearly  exhausted  in  New  Caledonia,  the  tree  has  lately 
been  cultivated,  and  a  small  quantity,  valued  at  £8,  was  exported  from 
Noumea  to  France  in  1882. 
S.  Cunning  hami,  Hook.,  is  said  to  yield  sandal  wood  in  New  Zea- 
land. 
Exocarpus  latifolius,  R.  Br. — A  specimen  of  the  wood  of  this  tree 
was  exhibited  as  West  Australian  sandal  wood  ("$.  latifolium")  at  the 
International  Paris  Exhibition  of  1878,  and  is  now  in  the  Museum  of 
this  Society.    It  possesses  but  little  fragrance. 
Australian  sandal  wood  is  received  in  this  country  from  Adelaide 
and  Freemantle.  It  yields  less  oil  of  a  less  fragrant  odor  than  the 
wood  of  S.  album. 
Fusanus  spicatus,  R.  Br.  [Santalum  cygnorum,  Miq.)  This  tree  has 
a  wide  range  through  South  and  West  Australia,  and  a  large  export 
of  the  wood  has  gone  on  annually,  chiefly  to  China,  the  exports  in 
1884  having  amounted  to  2620  tons,  at  an  estimated  value  of  £8  per 
ton,  that  of  S.  album  being  about  £40  per  ton.  The  export  is  expected 
to  continue  for  some  years  to  come  before  the  source  is  exhausted. 
There  is  a  duty  of  about  5s.  per  ton  on  all  the  sandal  wood  exported. 
Fusanus  persicarius,  F.  Muell.  (S.  persicarium,  F.  Muell.),  is  stated 
1  In  reply  to  an  inquiry  I  made  at  the  British  Museum  Mr.  S.  0.  Eidley  in- 
forms me  that  the  species  of  Fungia  most  likely  to  be  used  is  F.  dentifera,  Dana, 
which  is  sometimes  five  inches  long,  and  has  large  strong  teeth.  Being  elon- 
gated it  could  be  readily  grasped  by  the  hand,  and  would  answer  the  purpose 
well.  As  a  new  name  for  this  species  will  probably  soon  be  published  I  have 
not  mentioned  the  species  in  the  text. 
17 
