66 
In the raids and skirmishes, too, which have taken place in the 
camphor-producing districts, numbers of stills have been destroyed. 
Their destruction was, perhaps, Rear butas they were almost 
entirely erected with money advanced or loaned by foreign 
merchants in South Formosa, the Mosel invi by the latter 
have been very considerable. It is estimated that not one-third 
of the stills in existence two years ago, in which foreigners in 
South Formosa are interested, ie now available for camphor 
production. 
The hope expressed by Her Majesty's Consul in last year's 
report, that the camphor trade might revive and assume large 
ete has us been Eee in ee far from this being the 
e, the camphor export busin s far as South Formosa is 
ee has now (April, 1898) almost stopped. 
These remarks, of course, apply exclusively to the export of 
camphor by foreign merchants in this district (South Formosa) 
who have in the past invested considerable sums of money in the 
business. The production of camphor in the districts of Rinkipo 
and Shu Shu (Hunlin and Chip Chip), the principal districts 
whence the drug came to South Formosa, still, I am informed, 
versis though to nothing like the same extent as formerly ; 
all the camphor so produced finds its way vià the port of 
Rokko (Lokkang) to Tamsui, whence it is shipped to Hong Kong 
and Japan. The roads north of Rokko are said to be perfectly 
safe, so that dealers can Senet the neighbourho od of Chip Chip 
and buy up any camphor that, under other circumstances, should 
and would go to the foreign firms in Tainan, with whose money 
the business was first started. Things may remedy themselves 
in course of time, but ee outlook at presen is certainly not very 
bright. 
The following table shows the export of camphor from this 
port since, practically, the commencement of the trade :— 
Tan Number of Boxes 
s Exported. 
1892 ud > es = 4, 315 
1893 Ts a = ie 6,691 
1894 (ut a ise E 1» 157 
1895 ds is is x 10, Er 
1896 PUR die s s 
1897 ie dem me pe 3 (t 
NoTk.—One box contains about one picul (133) lbs.) of camphor. 
PRODUCTION. IN CEYLON. 
The cultivation of the camphor tree has attracted some 
Rn in Ceylon. But, as will be seen from the following 
ndence which has appeared in the Ceylon Observer, 
both it and the production of the drug are in the experimental = 
