Hans had now an opportunity of examining the tree that so interested
him, for they had stopped under the shade of one.
It was not a large tree, nor could it be called a very handsome one; but
for all that it proved to be of a most interesting character. It was
much branched with small leaves, of a pale green colour, and in their
general effect having a resemblance to the myrtles. Its flowers, too,
were small and inconspicuous. It chanced to be in flower at the time,
and this enabled the botanist to determine its character. It belonged
to the order _Santalaceae_, or "sandal-woods;" and was a species of
_Santalum_, closely allied to the _Santalum album_ of India, which
yields the sandal-wood of commerce.
They all knew what sandal-wood was, as they had seen various
"knick-knacks" manufactured out of this famous wood; but they knew not
whence it came, or what sort of tree produced it. Hans, however, taking
advantage of the halt, gave them this information:--
"The sandal-wood," he said, "is produced from a tree of the same genus
as the one now above us. It grows in the mountainous parts of the
Malabar country, and also in the islands of the Indian Archipelago. It
is a small tree, rarely growing to a foot in diameter. Its wood, as you
know, is highly prized on account of its agreeable fragrant smell; and
because this fragrance not only keeps it from decaying, but also
preserves any material, such as clothes, silk, and other articles that
may be in contact with it, from insects or rust. In consequence of this
quality of the sandal-wood, it is in great demand for making boxes,
cabinets, and such articles of furniture; and, on account of its
agreeable odour, it is also manufactured into fans and necklaces which
command high prices.
"The Brahmins use it in their sacrifices to the god Vishnu, to scent the
oil employed in the ceremony."
"Are there not two kinds of sandal-wood?" inquired Klaas. "Sister
Wilhelmina has a box of it and a necklace, too. They were brought from
India by Uncle, but they are very different. The box is white, and the
beads of the necklace are of a beautiful yellow colour--maybe they are
dyed."
"No," answered Hans, "they are not dyed. There _are_ two kinds, white
sandal-wood and the yellow sort, and it has been said that they were the
produce of different trees. This is not the case, however. Although
there is more than one species of _Santalum_ that produces the
sandal-wood of commerce, the white and yellow kinds are taken from the
same tree. The reason of the difference is, that towards the heart of
the tree where the wood is older, and especially down near the root, the
colour is of a deep yellow; whereas the young wood that lies outwardly
is nearly white. The yellow part is harder, more fragrant, and, of
course, more valuable.
"When these trees are felled for their wood, the bark is at once
stripped off and the trunk buried for nearly two months--which
strengthens its odour, and renders it more agreeable."
While Hans was giving these interesting details, the others took out
their knives; and each cutting a branch from the sandal-tree, applied it
to his nose, and then tasted it.
But, though they could perceive its fragrant smell, they found it
perfectly insipid to the taste. Hans said it was so with the _Santalum
album_ or true sandal-wood of India--that, notwithstanding its sweet
perfume, it is quite tasteless.
He further informed them that the name "sandal-wood" is not derived from
the use to which the wood is sometimes put--that of making _sandals_.
On the contrary, these derive their name from the wood itself. The true
derivation of the word is from the Persian "sandul," which signifies
useful, in relation to the valuable qualities of the timber. The
sandal-wood of the Sandwich Islands, added Hans, is procured from two
species different from _Santalum album_.
The yagers, having now rested a sufficient time, again faced up the
mountain, and in fifteen minutes after stood upon its top.