5 4® ON THE CAMPHOR-TREE 



The feed has a ftrong terebinthine fragrance 



The following particulars, concerning the extraction of the cam- 

 phor, were communicated by Mr, Prince s refident at Tapanooly to Doc- 

 tor Roxburgh,, 



st This tree grows fpontaneoufly in the forefts ; and is to be found 

 in abundance from the back of Ayer Bongey, as far north as Bacongan, a 

 diftance of 250 miles. It may be claffed among the talleft, and largeit 

 tret s that grow on this coafl ; feveral within daily view meafuring 

 fix or feven feet diameter. Before it acquire fuch dimen lions its age 

 is conjectured to be years ;. but it will produce Camphor at a much ear-- 

 lier period, when the tree does not exceed two and two and a half feet 

 in diameter. The fame tree which yields the oil, would have produc- 

 ed Camphor if unmolefled, the former being fuppofed to be the fir ft 

 ftageof the latter's forming, and is confequently found in younger trees* 

 The natives have no certain means of afcertaining the tree which pro- 

 duces either the one or the other, although there are fome men fly led 

 Toongoo Nyr Cappoor who pretend to that knowledge, but they cannot 

 give any reafons for their judgment, beyond favorable dreams, which 

 fuperftition has rendered infallible : and it mud be admitted that the 

 fuccefs of this defcription of people, in difcovering and procur/ing, is 

 greater than the majority of t.hofe who go in fearch, of the Camphor : 

 the diftinclion may have arifen from the peculiar favor of fortune to 

 fome individuals over others asin moil other circum fiances of life from 

 whence they have acquired a celebrity, ctherwife they could give fome 

 rational explanation of their fuperior fuccefs. Both Oil and Camphor are 

 found in the heart of the tree, occupying a vacuum, which, in others, is 

 frequently, filled with pitch ; but it does not extend to the whole length - t 

 on the contrary ? they are found in final! portions of a foot, and a foot 



