300 



The tree is a large one, with coriaceous ovate acuminate leaves 

 three inches long, of which the distinct point is half an inch and 

 inch wide. They are coriaceous, polished green and have a leaf stalk 

 half an inch long. The flowers are in terminal panicles about 2 inches 

 long, white and fragrant, the sepals fine, lanceolate acute, nearly ^ 

 inch long, rubbed and scurfy on the back. The petals thin lanceolate 

 acute white as long as the sepals. Stamens 35-45 with short filaments 

 and long narrow yellow beaked anthers. The fruit is an oblong conic 

 nut about an inch long with the five sepals elongated for about 3 

 inches oblong, obtuse and reddish brown joined by a cup at the base. 



Distribution: In the Malay Peninsula the Camphor tree grows 

 on the Endau river in Johore, at Rawang in Selangor, at Kuantan and 

 on the Rompin river, as described by Mr. Sanger Davies. 



In Sumatra, Marsden says that it grew in the North of the Island 

 only. Garcia da Orta says much Camphor is produced in Borneo 

 (Baros), Sumatra and Pacen. 



I have met with it in Santubong, in Borneo, where it does not, 

 however, form forests as it does in the Malay Peninsula, but grows 

 sporadically in the mixed forests. It also occurs in Labuan and 

 Lingga. 



The Camphor. 



The Camphor of this tree was the first kind of Camphor known, 

 and it was from the Malay word Kapur that the word Camphor was 

 derived. It was very early known and is mentioned in an Arabian 

 poem of the 6th century. It is mentioned by Marco Polo, as being 

 more superior than any other and named the Camphor of Fanfur 

 (supposed to be Kampar in Sumatra) and worth its weight in gold. 

 Its cost has always been very high. The price of Camphor in Borneo 

 in 1851 was 3 dollars a catty (95 shillings a pound), in Canton 80 

 shillings a pound. 



The quantity actually shipped from Borneo was stated by Motley, 

 in 1851, to be about 7 piculs. In 1813 (Milburne's Oriental Commerce), 

 Sumatra exported 50 piculs and Borneo 30 piculs. 



It is chiefly used, it appears, in funeral rites by the Chinese and 

 Battaks. Several attempts have been made to manufacture the 

 valued Camphor from the oil but without success. 



In young plants the leaves are more lanceolate, and in a specimen 

 sent by Mr. Craddock, from Baloh forest, Kwantan in Pahang, as 

 much as five inches long by iH inch wide. The nerves are very fine 

 and horizontal. The twigs are slender and black. 



Accounts of the plant have been published in the Bulletin, vol. I., 

 p. 61, II, 163, and the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society 

 vol. 26, p. 35, where there is given an account of the Camphor langu- 

 age referred to by Mr. Sanger Davies. —Ed. 



