616 ; POLYANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Shorea. 
2. S. camphorifera. R. 
Leaves ovate, acuminate, parallel, veined, smooth. 
Flowers axillary. : 
Camphor-tree of Sumatra, or that from which both the 
native camphor, and camphor-oil are obtained on that 
island. 
To John Prince, Esq. of Tappanooly, we are obliged 
for the following memorandum. 
“This tree grows spontaneously in the forests, and is 
to be found in abundance from the back of Ayers Bongry, 
as far north as Bacongan, a distance of twenty-five miles. 
It may be classed among the largest trees that grow on 
this coast, several within daily view, measuring six OF 
seven feet diameter. Before it acquires such dimen- 
sions it is conjectured to be many years.old, but it will 
‘produce camphor at a much earlier period. A few of the 
trees do not exceed two or two anda half feet in diameter. 
The same tree which yields the oil, would have produced 
camphor if unmolested, the former being supposed to be 
the first stage of the latter’s forming, and is consequent 
ly found in younger trees. The natives have no certain 
means of ascertaining the tree which produces either the 
one or the other, although there are some men styled 
Toongoo Nir Kapoor, who pretend to that knowledge, 
but they cannot give any reasons for their judgment be- 
yond favourable dreams, which superstition has rendered 
infallible; and it must be admitted that the success of 
‘this description of people, in discovering and procuring, is 
greater than that of the commonality of those who go in 
search of the camphor ; the distinction’ may have arise? 
from the peculiar favour of fortune to some individuals 
Over others, as in most other circumstances ‘of life, from 
. whence they have acquired a celebrity, otherwise they 
could give some rational reason for their superior SUC 
tree, occupying a vacuum, which in. others is freq! 
