Dissertatio de Vectigalibus Pop. Rom. c. 6.); and it has been heavily taxed in most modern states. The gabelle, or code of salt laws, formerly established in France, was most oppressive. From 4,000 to 5,000 persons are calculated to have been sent annually to prison and the galleys for offences connected with these laws, the severity of which had no inconsiderable share in bringing about the Revolution.(Young's Travels in France, vol. i. p. 59.) In this country, duties upon salt were imposed in the reign of William III. In 1798, they amounted to 5s. a bushel; but were subsequently increased to 15s. a bushel, or about forty times the cost of the salt! So exorbitant a duty was productive of the worst effects; and occasioned, by its magnitude, and the regulations for allowing salt, duty free, to the fisheries, a vast deal of smuggling. The opinion of the public and of the House of Commons having been strongly pronounced against the tax, it was finally repealed in 1823.

That the repeal of so exorbitant a duty has been productive of great advantage, no one can doubt; but seeing that a large revenue must be raised, we question whether government acted wisely in totally relinquishing the tax. Had the duty been reduced to 2s. or 2s. 6d. a bushel, and no duty free salt allowed for the fisheries, but a drawback given on the fish exported, a revenue of 1,000,000l. a year might have been derived from this source with but little injury. It was not the nature of the salt tax, but the absurd extent to which it had been carried, that rendered it justly odious. When at the highest, it produced about 1,500,000l. a year.

[For the quantity and value of the salt which is annually imported into the United States see article IMPORTS AND EXPORTS. A great quantity of salt is, however, produced in the region beyond the Alleghanies, and at Salina and elsewhere in the state of New York. The following extract from a Report made to the legislature of this state, in January, 1839, exhibits the condition of its salt-works.

Some new manufactories have been erected, and a few manufacturers have enlarged their cisterns. The legislature appropriated in 1838 $8,000 for the purpose of sinking a shaft or well 600 feet in depth, in the village of Salina, and a well has been sunk to the depth of 550 feet, which will cost about $3,600, including $500 for a set of drill poles.

From some cause unknown, the brine obtained at one of the wells in the village of Geddes, during the present season, has been from three to seven per cent. weaker than that usual in other villages. The principal well is now 120 feet deep and 3 inches in diameter; it is proposed to increase the depth to 160 or 180 feet, and the diameter to 6 inches, and to tube it so as to include the surface water-to cost about $450.

A well has been opened in Salina, and one in Syracuse. That at Salina was sunk 100 feet, and brine of strong quality was found, but so limited in quantity as to be useless-it has been abandoned. The well at Syracuse is 150 feet deep, and brine of good quality is obtained.

The quantity of salt manufactured in 1838 exceeds that of 1837 by 413,745 bushels; and of 1836 by 662,175 bushels. The nett revenue of 1838 amounts to $23,866-88 more than in 1837, and is $35,366-80 more than in 1836.

The annual increase since 1826, with the exception of 1836 and 1837, appears to be about equal to a ratio doubling the quantity in nine years, and trebling in twelve. At the same rate for the next twelve vears the quantity would be little less than eight millions of bushels, yielding a revenue, at six cents per bushel, of about half a million of dollars.

SALTPETRE, OR NITRATE OF POTASH (Ger. Salpeter; Fr. Nitre, Salpêtre ; It. Nitro, Salnitro; Sp. Nitro, Salitre; Rus. Senitra; Lat. Nitrum; Arab. Übkir; Hind. Shorah), a salt well known in commerce, and of very great importance. It may be regarded both as a natural and an artificial production; being found on the surface of the soil in many parts of India, Egypt, Italy, &c.; but in these and other places all that is known in commerce is obtained by an artificial process, or by lixiviating earth that has been formed into nitre beds. The saltpetre consumed in England is brought from Bengal in an impure state, but crystallised, in bags, each containing 164 lbs. Saltpetre forms the principal ingredient in the manufacture of gunpowder; and is used in various arts. It is also of great utility in the commerce of India, from its furnishing a large amount of dead weight for the shipping engaged in it. Saltpetre possesses considerable antiseptic power. That which is of the best quality and well refined, is in long transparent crystals; its taste is sharp, bitterish, and cooling; it flames much when thrown upon burning coals; it is very brittle; its specific gravity is 1.933. It is not altered by exposure to the air.

Beckmann contends, in a long and elaborate dissertation (Hist. of Invent. vol. iv. pp. 525-586. Eng. *Act passed allowing a bounty of three cents per measured bushel on coarse salt sent to the Hudson, Lake Erie, or Canada.

ed.), that the ancients were unacquainted with saltpetre, and that their nitrum was really an alkaline salt. But, as saltpetre is produced naturally in considerable quantities in Egypt, it is difficult to sup pose that they could be entirely ignorant of it; though it would appear that they had confounded it with other things. It has been known in the East from a very early period. Beckmann concurs in opinion with those who believe that gunpowder was invented in India, and brought by the Saracens from Africa to the Europeans; who improved its manufacture, and made it available for warlike purposes. (Vol. iv. p. 571.)

The consumption of saltpetre during periods of war is very great. Its price is consequently liable to extreme fluctuation. In remarking on the varieties in the price of saltpetre, Mr. Tooke observes, "It reached its greatest height in 1795, viz., 170s. a cwt.; in 1796, it fell at one time to 45s and rose again to 96s. It seems to have been affected considerably by the scale of hostilities on the Continent. But in consequence of the discoveries in chemistry, by which the French were enabled to dispense with a foreign supply, and by the increased importation from India to this country, by which we were enabled to supply the rest of the Continent at a reduced cost, the price declined permanently after 1798-9, when it had reached 145s.; and never after was so high as 100s.; except during the short interval of speculation in exports during the peace of 1814, and again upon the breaking out of the war terminated by the battle of Waterloo.' The price of saltpetre in the London market varies at this moment (January, 1834) from 32s. to 40s. a cwt.

We are indebted for the following comprehensive statement of the importation, consumption, &c. of East Indian saltpetre to Mr. Cook's State of the Commerce of Great Britain in 1833.

Imports, Deliveries, Prices, and Stocks of East Indian Saltpetre during the 10 Years ending with 1833.

Within the last 3 years, a new species of saltpetre, under the denomination of nitrate of soda, has been received from South America. The imports of it have increased from 70 tons in 1831, to 1,450 in 1833. Though not applicable to all the purposes for which East India saltpetre is used, it is rather preferred by vitriol makers, and by some other classes of manufacturers. The deliveries of this description for home consumption have been in 1831, 70 tons; in 1832, 690 do.; and in 1833, 1,210.—(Cook, in loc. cit.)

SALVAGE, as the term is now understood, is an allowance or compensation made to those by whose exertions ships or goods have been saved from the dangers of the seas, fire, pirates, or enemies.

The propriety and justice of making such an allowance must be obvious to every one. It was allowed by the laws of Rhodes, Oleron, and Wisby; and in this respect they have been followed by all modern maritime states. At common law, the party who has saved the goods of another from loss or any imminent peril has a lien upon them, and may retain them in his possession till payment of a reasonable salvage.

1. Salvage upon Losses by Perils of the Sea.-If the salvage be performed at sea, or within high or low water mark, the Court of Admiralty has jurisdiction over the subject, and will fix the sum to be paid, and adjust the proportions, and take care of the property pending the suit; or, if a sale be necessary, direct it to be made; and divide the proceeds between the salvors and the proprietors according to equity and reason. And in fixing the rate of salvage, the court usually has regard not only to the labour and peril incurred by the salvors, but also to the situation in which they may happen to stand in respect of the property saved, to the promptitude and alacrity manifested by them, and to the value of the ship and cargo, as well as the degree of danger from which they were rescued. Sometimes the court has allowed as large a proportion as a half of the property saved as salvage; and in others, not more than a tenth.

The crew of a ship are not entitled to salvage, or any unusual remuneration for the extraordinary efforts they may have made in saving her; it being their duty as well as interest to contribute their utmost upon such occasions, the whole of their possible service being pledged to the master and owners. Neither are passengers entitled to claim any thing for the ordinary assistance they may have been able to afford to a vessel in distress. But a passenger is not bound to remain on board a ship in the hour of danger, provided he can leave her; and if he perform any extraordinary services, he is entitled to a proportional recompence.

In the case of valuable property, and of numerous proprietors and salvors, the jurisdiction and proceedings of the Court of Admiralty are well adapted to further the pur poses of justice. But, as the delay and expense necessarily incident to the proceedings of a court sitting at a distance from the subject will often be very burdensome upon

* Including from 600 to 1,000 tons annually exported in a refined state.

the

parties, in cases where the property saved is not, perhaps, very considerable, the legislature has endeavoured to introduce a more expeditious and less expensive method of proceeding.

The first act for this purpose is the 12 Ann. stat. 2. c. 18. It appears from the preamble, that the infamous practices, once so common, of plundering ships driven on shore, and seizing whatever could be laid hold of as lawful property-(see WRECK),—had not been wholly abandoned; or that, if the property was restored to the owners, the demand for salvage was so exorbitant, that the inevitable ruin of the trader was the immediate consequence. To remedy those mischiefs in future, it was enacted, "that if a ship was in danger of being stranded, or being run ashore, the sheriffs, justices, mayors, constables, or officers of the customs, nearest the place of danger, should, upon application made to them, summon and call together as many men as should be thought necessary to the assistance, and for the preservation, of such ship in distress, and her cargo; and that if any ship, man-of-war, or merchantman, should be riding at anchor near the place of danger, the constables and officers of the customs might demand of the superior officers of such ship the assistance of her boats, and such hands as could be spared; and that, if the superior officer should refuse to grant such assistance, he should forfeit 100L."

Then follows the section respecting salvage. It enacts, "that all persons employed in preserving ships or vessels in distress, or their cargoes, shall, within 30 days after the service is performed, be paid a reasonable reward for the same, by the commander, master, or other superior officer, mariners, or owners, of the ship or vessel so in distress, or by any merchant whose vessel or goods shall be so saved; and, in default thereof, the said ship or vessel so saved shall remain in the custody of the officers of customs until all charges are paid, and until the officers of the customs, and the master or other officers of the ship or vessel, and all others employed in the preservation of the ship, shall be reasonably gratified for their assistance and trouble, or good security given for that purpose: and if any disagreement shall take place between the persons whose ships or goods have been saved, and the officer of the customs, touching the monies deserved by any of the persons so employed, it shall be lawful for the commander of the ship or vessel so saved, or the owner of the goods, or the merchant interested therein, and also for the officer of the customs, or his deputy, to nominate 3 of the neighbouring justices of the peace, who shall thereupon adjust the quantum of the monies or gratuity to be paid to the several persons acting or being employed in the salvage of the said ship, vessel, or goods; and such adjustment shall be binding upon all parties, and shall be recoverable in an action at law; and in case/ it shall so happen that no person shall appear to make his claim to all or any of the goods that may be saved, that then the chief officer of the customs of the nearest port to the place where the said ship or vessel was so in distress shall apply to 3 of the nearest justices of the peace, who shall put him or some other responsible person in possession of the said goods, such justices taking an account in writing of the said goods, to be signed by the said officer of the customs; and if the said goods shall not be legally claimed within the space of 12 months next ensuing, by the rightful owner thereof, then public sale shall be made thereof; and, if perishable goods, forthwith to be sold, and, after all charges deducted, the residue of the monies arising from such sale, with a fair and just account of the whole, shall be transmitted to her Majesty's exchequer, there to remain for the benefit of the rightful owner, when appearing; who, upon affidavit, or other proof made of his or their right or property, thereto, to the satisfaction of one of the barons of the coif of the exchequer, shall, upon his order, receive the same out of the exchequer."

By a subsequent statute, 26 Geo. 2. c. 19, it is enacted, "that in case any person or person, not employed by the master, mariners, or owners, or other person lawfully authorised, in the salvage of any vessel, or the cargo or provision thereof, shall, in the absence of the person so employed and authorised, save any such vessel, goods, or effects, and cause the same to be carried, for the benefit of the owners or proprietors, into port, or to any near adjoining Custom-house, or other place of safe custody, immediately giving notice thereof to some justice of the peace, magistrate, or Custom-house or excise officer, or shall discover to such magistrate or officer where any such goods or effects are wrongfully bought, sold, or concealed, then such person or persons shall be entitled to a reasonable reward for such services, to be paid by the masters or owners of such vessels or goods, and to be adjusted, in case of disagreement about the quantum, in like manner as the salvage is to be adjusted and paid by 12th Anne, or else as follows:

"And be it further enacted, that, for the better ascertaining the salvage to be paid in pursuance of the present act and the act before-mentioned, and for the more effectually putting the said acts into execution, the justice of the peace, mayor, bailiff, collector of the customs, or chief constable, who shall be nearest to the place where any ship, goods, or effects shall be stranded or cast away, shall forthwith give public notice for a meeting to be held as soon as possible, of the sheriff or his deputy, the justices of the peace, mayors, or other chief magistrates of towns corporate, coroners, or commissioners of the land tax, or any 5 or more of them, who are hereby empowered and required to give aid in the execution of this and the said former act, and to employ proper persons for the saving ships in distress, and such ships, vessels, and effects, as shall be stranded or cast away; and also to examine persons upon oath, touching the same, or the salvage thereof, and to adjust the quantum of such salvage, and distribute the same among the persons concerned in such salvage, in case of disagreement among the parties or the said persons; and that every such magistrate, &c. attending and acting at such meeting, shall be paid 4s. a day for his expenses in such attendance, out of the goods and effects saved by their care or direction.

"Provided always, that if the charges and rewards for salvage directed to be paid by the former statute and by this act, shall not be fully paid, or sufficient security given for the same, within 40 days next after the said services performed, then it shall be lawful for the officer of the customis concerned in such salvage to borrow or raise so much money as shall be sufficient to satisfy and pay such charges and rewards, or any part thereof then remaining unpaid, or not secured as aforesaid, by or upon one or more bill or bills of sale, under his hand and seal of the ship or vessel, or cargo saved, or such part thereof as shall be sufficient, redeemable upon payment of the principal sum borrowed, and interest upon the same at the rate of 41. per cent. per annum."

An act of the 53 Geo. 3. c. 87., continued and extended by the 1 & 2 Geo. 4. c. 76., contains some regulations supplying defects in former statutes. They enact, that goods of a perishable nature, or so much damaged that they cannot be kept, may, at the request of any person interested or concerned in the same, or in saving thereof, be sold with the consent of a justice, the money being deposited in the hands of the lord of the manor, and an account of the sale transmitted to the deputy vice-admiral, They also authorise the passage of horses, carts, carriages, &c. to the part of the sea coast where a vessel may be wrecked, over the adjoining lands, if there be no road leading as conveniently thereto, under penalty of 1007., the damages to be settled by two justices in the event of the parties not agree ing (1 & 2 Geo. 4. 27. 29, 30.)

It is ordered by the same statute, that no lord of the manor, or other person claiming to be entitled to wreck or goods, shall appropriate or dispose of the same until he shall have caused to be given in writing to the deputy vice-admiral of that part of the coast, or to his agents if they reside within 50 miles, if not, then to the corporation of the Trinity House, a report containing an accurate and particular description of the wreck or goods found, and of the place where and time when found, and of

any marks thereon, and of such other particulars as may better enable the owner to recover them, and also of the place where they are deposited, and may be found and examined by any person claiming any right to them, nor until the expiration of 1 whole year and a day after the expiration of such notice: the deputy vice-admiral, or his agent, is, within 48 hours of receiving such report, to transmit a copy thereof to the secretary of the corporation of the Trinity House, upon pain of forfeiting, for every neglect to transmit such account, 50l. to any person who shall sue for the same; and the secretary is to cause such account to be placed in some conspicuous situation for the inspection of all persons claiming to inspect and examine it.-(1 & 2 Geo. 4. c. 75. 26.)

It is further ordered by the same statute, that pilots and others taking possession of anchors, cables, or other wrecked or left materials upon the coast, or within any harbour, river, or bay, shall send notice thereof, within twenty-four hours, to the nearest deputy vice-admiral, or his agent, delivering the articles at such place as may be appointed, under pain of being deemed receivers of stolen goods. The deputy vice-admiral, or his agent, may also seize such articles as have not been reported to him, and is required to keep and report them to the Trinity House as aforesaid; and if he seize them without previous information, he is to have 1-3d of the value; if he seize in pursuance of information, the third is to be divided between him and the informer. If the articles are not claimed within a year and a day, they are to be sold, and the money applied as directed by the act of Queen Anne (12 Ann. stat. 2. c. 18, previously quoted), the deputy vice-admiral, or his agent, and the person who may have given information, being in such cases entitled to the salvage allowed upon unclaimed property. And it is further enacted, that if any dispute shall arise between the salvors of any goods found, lodged, and reported as aforesaid, and the owners thereof, as to the salvage to be paid in respect of the same, it is to be determined by the decision of 3 justices; or if they differ, by their nominee, who is to be a person conversant with maritime affairs. Masters and others bound to foreign parts, finding or taking on board anchors, goods, &c., knowing them to be found, are to enter the same in the log book, with the place and time of finding, and to transmit a copy of such entry, by the first possible opportunity, to the Trinity House, and to deliver up the articles on their return home, which, if not claimed, are to be sold within a year and day, according to the aforementioned statute of Anne. Masters selling such articles incur a penalty of not less than 307. and not more than 1001.

Pilots, boatmen, or other persons, conveying anchors and cables to foreign countries, and disposing of them there, are to be adjudged guilty of felony, and may be transported for 7 years.

The same statute authorises 3 justices, or their nominee, to decide upon all claims made by boatmen, pilots, and other persons, for services of any description (except pilotage) rendered by them to any ship or vessel, whether in distress or not.

Parties dissatisfied with the award of the justices or their nominee may appeal to the Court of Admiralty; but the justices are in such cases to deliver the goods to the proprietors, or their agent, on their giving good security for double their value. This act does not extend to Scotland.

None of the previously mentioned acts have any force within the Cinque Ports; but the Lord Warden is directed by stat. 1 & 2 Geo. 4. c. 76. to appoint 3 or more substantial persons in each of these towns, who are authorised to decide upon all claims for services of any sort or description rendered to any vessel, or for saving or preserving, within the jurisdiction, any goods or merchandise wrecked, stranded, or cast away, or for bringing anchors or cables ashore, &c. No commissioner can act for any other place than that in which, or within a mile of which, he is resident. Either party may, within 8 days of the award, declare his intention of bringing the matter before some competent Court of Admiralty; selecting, as he may judge best, the Admiralty of England or that of the Cinque Ports. The provisions in this statute have been justly eulogised by Lord Tenterden, for the cheap and easy means they afford for settling such questions.

It is impossible, as Mr. Justice Fark has observed (Law of Insurance, c. 8.), to suppose 2 instances of loss by shipwreck, or other peril of the sea, so similar to each other, that the trouble, danger, and expense of the salvers should be exactly equal; and it would, consequently, be contrary to the first principles of justice to award the same sum for all possible cases of salvage. There was, therefore, no other resource but to appoint competent persons to decide as to the allowance due in any case of salvage that might arise, after taking the various circumstances with respect to it into account.

2. Salvage upon Recapture. It was the practice of our courts, previously to any regulations on the subject, to order restitution of ships or goods, if retaken before condemnation, to be made to the original owners, on payment of a reasonable salvage to the recaptors; but by stat. 43 Geo. 3. c. 160. it has been adjudged, that "if any ship or vessel taken as prize, or any goods therein, shall appear, in the Court of Admiralty, to have belonged to any of his Majesty's subjects, which were before taken by any of his Majesty's enemies, and at any time afterwards retaken by any of his Majesty's ships, or any privateer, or other ship or vessel under his Majesty's protection, such ships, vessels, and goods shall, in all cases (save as hereafter excepted), be adjudged to be restored, and shall be accordingly restored, to such former owner or owners, he or they paying for salvage, if retaken by any of his Majesty's ships, one eighth part of the true value thereof, to the flag officers, captains, &c., to be divided as the same act directs; and if retaken by any privateer, or other ship or vessel, one sixth part of the true value of such ships and goods, to be paid to the owners, officers, and seamen of such privateer or other vessel, without any deduction; and if retaken by the joint operation of one or more of his Majesty's ships, and one or more private ships of war, the judge of the Court of Admiralty, or other court having cognisance thereof, shall order such salvage, and in such proportions, to be paid to the captors by the owners, as he shall, under the circumstances of the case, deem fit and reasonable; but if such recaptured ship or vessel shall appear to have been set forth by the enemy as a ship or vessel of war, the said ship or vessel shall not be restored to the former owners, but shall in all cases, whether retaken by any of his Majesty's ships or any privateer, be adjudged lawful prize for the benefit of the captors."

This act is decidedly more favourable to the merchants than the old law, which adjudged that all ships recaptured after sentence of condemnation should be the property of the captors.

In the case of neutral ships captured by an enemy, and retaken by British men-of-war or privateers, the Courts of Admiralty have a discretionary power of allowing such salvage, and in such proportions, as, under the circumstances of each particular case, may appear just; but there is no positive law or binding regulation to which parties may appeal, for ascertaining the rate of such salvage. "The ma ritime law of England," says Lord Stowell, "having adopted a most liberal rule of restitution on salvage, with respect to the recaptured property of its own subjects, gives the benefit of that rule to its allies, till it appears that they act towards British property on a less liberal principle; in such a case, it adopts their rule, and treats them according to their own measure of justice."-(1 Rob. Adm. Rep. 54.) Salvage is one of those charges which are usually provided against by insurance. When, however, the salvage is very high, and the object of the voyage in so far defeated, the insured is, by the laws of this and all other maritime nations, allowed to abandon, and to call upon the insurer as for a total

loss. (See ABANDONMENT.)

For further information with respect to salvage, see Abbott on the Law of Shipping, part iii. c. 10. ; Park on Insurance, c. S.; and Marshall on Insurance, book i. c. 12. § 8.

[For information on the present subject interesting to the American reader, reference may be had to Kent's Commentaries on American Law.-Am. Ed.]

SAMPLE, a small quantity of a commodity exhibited at public or private sales, as a specimen. Sugars, wool, spirits, wine, coffee, and, indeed, most species of merchandise, are sold by sample. If an article be not, at an average, equal to the sample by which it is sold, the buyer may cancel the contract, and return the article to the seller.

Subjoined is a list of most articles that may be warehoused, and of the quantities that may be taken out as samples.-(Customs Min. Oct. 11, 1825.)

Aloes

quantity (not exceeding 1 3 4 lb.) to be charged with duty on delivery of the packages. Isinglass

Brimstone, rough,

2 lbs. per pile.

Lac dye

.

1 oz.

do.

Senna
Shumac

1 oz.

do.

1 lb. per lot 10 bags.

in rolls

1 lb. per package.

Lead, black

2 oz. per package.

Cassia

- 1-2 lb.

do.

Lemon peel

- 1-2 lb. each entry.

thrown

1 oz.

do.

Liquorice juice

- 1-4 lb. per package.

root

- 1-4 lb.

do.

Cochineal.

Spirits

dust

2 oz.

do.

tured

- 1-4 lb.

do.

Cream of tartar

1 lb.

do.

olive

1-2 pint per cask.

. 1-2 pint

do.

Essence of ber

rosemary

1 oz. per package.

spike

1 oz.

do.

thyme

Orange peel

1-4 lb. per lot 6 bags.

Orchella

1 lb.

do.

Orrice root

- 1-4 lb.

do.

- 1-2 lb.

8 oz.

do.

Pimento

2 oz. do.

British
plantation

Turmeric
Valonia
Wax, bees'

. 1-2 pint.

neal.

galanga

2 lb per pile.

Wool, cotton

4 oz. per package.

Ipecacuanha 1 oz. per package.

sheep or

Senegal

- 1-2 lb.

do.

senekæ

1 oz.

do.

lambs' Spanish

other gum

Rhubarb

1 oz. per package.

Yarn, mohair

Honey

12 lb.

do.

Jalap

Indigo

- 1-4 lb.

do.

.

Any further

Sago
Salep

2 lbs. per pile.
1 oz. per package.

Mother of pearl
shells
Vermicelli -

1 oz. per package.

SANDAL WOOD, the wood of a tree (Santalum album Lin.) having somewhat of the appearance of a large myrtle. It is of a deep yellow colour, and yields an agreeable perfume. The tree, when cut down, is usually about 9 inches in diameter at the root, but sometimes considerably more. After being felled, it is barked, cut into billets, and buried in a dry place for about a couple of months, during which time the white ants eat off the outer wood, without touching the heart, which is the sandal. It is then taken up and sorted, according to the size of the billets. The deeper the colour, and the nearer the root, the higher is the perfume. Reject such pieces as are of a pale colour, small, decayed, or have white wood about them; and take especial care that it be not mixed with wood resembling sandal, but without its perfume.-(Milburn's Orient. Com.)

Sandal wood is extensively employed by the Hindoos as a perfume, in their funeral ceremonies. But the Chinese are its principal consumers. They manufacture it into fans, and small articles of furniture, and use it, when ground into powder, as a cosmetic. During the year ended the 31st of March, 1832, there were imported by British vessels into Canton, 6,338 piculs (395 tons) of sandal wood, valued at 74,471 dollars (see vol. i. p. 301.); and the imports in some years are more than twice this amount. The average importation into Calcutta is about 200 tons a year. It grows principally in Malabar, in the mountainous country at a little distance from the low sea coast; in Timor; and in the Fejee Islands in the South Sea. Calcutta is principally supplied from Malabar, while China derives the larger portion of her supplies from Timor and the other islands. It is seldom brought to Europe, except by individuals for their own use, or as presents for their friends.-(Bell's External Com. of Bengal, pp. 49. and 85.; Crawfurd's Indian Archipelago, vol. i. p. 519., vol. iii. p. 421. &c.)

SANDARACH, a resinous substance, commonly met with in loose granules a little larger than a pea, of a whitish yellow colour, brittle, inflammable, of a resinous smell, and acrid aromatic taste. It exudes, it is said, in warm climates, from cracks and incisions in the common juniper bush. It is used as a varnish, dissolved in spirits of wine. (Ainslie's Mat. Indica.)

(SANDWICH ISLANDS.-This secluded but interesting group of islands is situated in the midst of the Pacific Ocean, nearly under the tropic of Cancer, and in about the 160th degree of west longitude. There are, in all, 13 or 14 islands; but with the exception of Owyhee, where Cook was killed, the rest are but of inconsiderable size. The islanders are honourably distinguished among the Polynesian nations by the advances they have made in civilisation; and particularly by their progress in manufactures and commerce. But they are principally entitled to notice, in a work of this sort, from their being frequently visited by English and American ships engaged in the southern whale-fishery, or in the commerce of the Pacific.

The principal port is Honororu, on the south side of the island of Woahoo, in lat. 21° 18′ 3′′ N., long. 158° 1' W. It has several good houses; with a considerable population, among which are from 150 to 250 English and Americans. The anchorage is good; and it is a very favourable place for refitting. In 1831 two ships, one of 180, and another of 190 tons, were hove-down, caulked, and coppered in five days. Water is good and plentiful; and fresh provisions may generally be had on very reasonable terins. VOL. II.-20 55