-cA-NBTiwE EOKTus ja:maicensis. \u 



5talk to the po'in^ where they soq* diminish ; whereas in tliis the ribs are small, and 

 extend towards the sides ; th> siirfaiSe is saiootii and shinifig. There are males and 

 Lcniiaphrodites on diSerent trees. 



The root is lar^e, thick, and ifcat-hiated ; the trunk often three feet in diameter ; 

 the tree is very ramose, its hark grey wh, and rough on the trunk, but green on the 

 Voimg branches. The wooel is white, but becomes reddish in drying. The leaves 

 stand irregularly, and resenible those of the ha,y-tree. '^I'hey are thrcje inches long and 

 -half as broa 1, sijaiewhat curled about the edges, and terminate in a long narrow point; 

 tlicy are of a bright green abi^'o and gryiaii belo\V. Tlu; flowers are vevv sukiU and 

 -.viiite ; they stand in clusters on tlie tops oi' ramose pedicels, rising from rhe a'ie of the 

 leaves ; tlie fnutis a black shuung berry. 



-Thistree is mentioned in tiie Hortiis Eastensis ^s having been introduced into this 

 island by Dr. Clarke, in the year 1775, and has since been successfully cultivated in se- 

 veral parts of the island, it no doubt wonhl be a valuable acquisition if general] v 

 planted. The Clunese call it tclmng, and, to obtain the campliire, they take the fresh 

 tranches, chop tlieiu very small, ami lay them to steep in spring ualer for three da3'6 

 and three niglits. After they have been soalicd in this manner they are-jnit into a ket- 



tie, where they are boiled for a certain time, during vdwch the\- keep c(>ntinually stir- 

 ring them, with a stick made of willow. Whca. they perceive that the sap. of these small 

 chips adheres su0iciently to the stick in the form of a white frost, they strain the whole, 

 throwing away the dregs. This juice is afterwards poured gently into a new earthen 

 bason, well varnibked, in which it is sudereti to remain one night. Next morning it is 



"-foim^ coagulated, and formed into a solid m;iss. To pnvify this iirsi preparation^ they 



j)rocure some earth from an old earthen wail, which, when pounded and reduced to a 



very fine pow'der, they put into the bottom of a'bason matle of red copper; over thi,; 

 "layer of earth they spread a layer of -cainphire, and continue thus until there are four 



strata. 'The last, which is of very fine earth, they cover up v.'ith the leaves of the plant 

 fo-ho^ ()\ pcnnij -royal ; and over the whole they place another b?son, ioining it very 

 closely to the former by means of a kind of red earth that cements tiieir brims together. 

 The bason, thus prepared, is put over a fire, which must be managed so as to keep up 



: an equal heat ; experience teaches them to observe the proper degree ; but above all 



t.hey must be very attentive lest the plaister of fat earth, which keeps the basons toge- 

 '-ther, should craek or fall off; otherwise the spirituous parts would evaporate and ruin 



the whole jjrocess. When the basons have been exposed to the necessary heat, they 

 are taken off and left to cool ; after which they are seperated, and the subHmated cam- 

 pliire is found adhering to the cover. If this operation be repeated two or three times, 

 the camphire is found purer and in larger pieces. Whenever it is necessary to use any 

 'Cjuantity of this substance, it is put between two earthen vessels, the edges of wliich are 

 surrounded with several bands of wet paper. These vessels are kejit for about an hour 



over aU' equal and moderate fire ; and, v;hen they are cool, the camplnre is found in 

 its utmost perfection and ready for use. This method of procuring camphire, even 

 from the heart of the tree, may be practised in all seasons of tiie 3 ear ; which would 

 not be the case were it extracteil like other resinous substances that only flow during a, 



certain short space of time. Besides, by lopj^ing the branches of the camphire tree, 

 less hurt is done to it than by making incisions, which are always ha;2ardous. The Abbe 



'.Grosier, from whom the foregoing account is taken, informs us, that in China some of 

 these tree!! are found above one hundred cubits in height, aitd so thick that twenty per-. 



U E0114 



