— 136 - 



About 2^2 years ago we mentioned, quoting from a report by the 

 German Consul at Calcutta 1 ) that in Burma and in the neighbouring Shan- 

 States the cultivation of the true camphor tree, Cinnamomum Camphora, 

 Wees, is a paying industry. The Administration of Forests in Burma has 

 made experiments in the preparation, on a manufacturing scale, of borneoi 

 from Blumea y the distilling-material being worked up both in the fresh and 

 in the dry state, but no particulars of the result are given. The natives 

 in Northern Hsenwi prepare borneoi in the following manner: A bamboo 

 basket is filled with leaves and thin branches of the Blumea, the mature 

 leaves being preferred, and covered with a cooling-mat moistened with 

 cold water. The whole is placed in a larger pot, containing a little water, 

 which however, may not touch the basket. The water is brought to boil 

 by a fire lighted underneath, when the ascending steam penetrates through 

 the contents of the basket and is condensed against the lower side of 

 the cooling mats, which are freshly moistened from time to time. The 

 distillation is completed after a few hours; the borneoi is found adhering 

 in the condensed state to the sides of the basket, the yield varying from 1 

 to 2 weight-rupees of 180 grains each (= from 10 to 20 grams) according 

 to the quantity and the quality of the material used. The product is put 

 up in bamboo tubes and enjoys a good sale locally as a medicament for 

 various purposes. But the total output is insignificant, for distilling is 

 only carried on when the natives have nothing else to do. On the other 

 hand it is reported that from Kengtung there is a considerable export to 

 the Southern Shan -States; the average annual output at Kengtung being 

 said to run from 14000 to 18000 lbs. 



Civet. A fresh shipment has lately come to hand from our reliable 

 source of supply, which is of a quality that will satisfy the highest re- 

 quirements. The shipment consists of original horns of all sizes, and 

 we take this opportunity of again strongly reminding our clients of our 

 great resources in the supply of this article. The civet-business is in the 

 main a question of confidence, and it is well not to be too exacting in 

 the matter of price. 



Copaiba Balsam. In their "Analytical Notes" 2 ) Evans Sons, 

 Lescher § Webb, Ltd. give some further information on the yield and 

 physical constants of copaiba balsam oils examined by them in the course 

 of the year 1910. The most important of these data are here tabulated: 



Yield d 15 , 5 o <*d 



1. Bahia- Oils 44 to 60% 0,898 to 0,902 — 8° to — 1 1° 26* 



2. Cartagena- „ 40 „ 52°/ 0,894 „ 0,910 —2° 30' „ —22° 30' 



in one case -f- 0° 36' 



J ) Report November 1908, 30. 



2 ) Analytical Notes 1910, January 1911; for previous information by the same firm comp. 

 Report April 1910, 146. 



