s 



Malay Peninsula.] ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 335 



a sense of coolness. It is proved by putting it in water ; if good, it will 

 swim on the surface; if adulterated, it will sink. Particular care should be 

 taken in packing it, or it will evaporate, and lose much of its weight. 



This kind of camphire is also produced on the Island of Borneo, of 

 which about 30 peculs are annually exported ; and is said to be held in 

 greater estimation by the Chinese than that of Sumatra, the whole of which 

 is sent to the China market; the camphire imported into England being the 

 produce of China, and described hereafter. 



Camphire Oil. — This valuable commodity is not manufactured, under- 

 goes no preparation, and, though termed an oil, is rather a liquid and 

 volatile resin, without any oleaginous quality. It is procured in the follow- 

 ing manner . — The natives make a transverse incision in the tree to the depth 

 of some inches, and then cut sloping downwards from above the notch, till 

 they leave a flat horizontal superficies ; this they hollow out till it holds 

 about a quart : they then put into the hollow a piece of lighted reed, and let 

 it remain for about ten minutes, which acting as a stimulus, draws the fluid 

 to that part, and, in the space of the night, the liquor fills the receptacle. 

 The natives of Sumatra consider this oil a valuable domestic medicine, and 

 it is much used by them in strains, swellings, and inflammations. 



Canes are of several kinds, and principally brought from the Straits of 

 Malacca. The dragon's blood canes are of two sorts, male and female : the 

 first is perfectly round, the other not so, having a projection, or seam, on 

 one side; the male canes are preferred, and should be chosen round, taper, 

 supple, and clouded, the more so the better, and of a dark brown or maho- 

 gany colour ; the middle joint must be 36 inches long, and the top and 

 bottom joints 8 or 10 inches more. Such as are light, and under 30 inches 

 long, should be rejected. 



Walking canes, called Jambees, are generally about 4 feet long, with 

 joints, or knobs, about 6 to 9 inches apart ; these are of little value. 



The canes called Japan, or wanghees, are procured at China ; they 

 should be chosen pliable, tough, round, and taper, of a good colour, and 

 well glazed, having the knots at regular distances; the light and worm- 

 eaten should be rejected. 



6,000 dragon^ blood canes, 3,000 walking canes, or 6,000 wanghees, 

 are allowed to a ton. 



Clove Bark, called by the natives, CoeUt-lawang y is the bark of a 

 tree growing on Amboyna and the neighbouring islands. It is thin, of a 

 greyish cast, and when upon the tree, smooth, but when dried, becomes 

 rough and shrivelled ; it is red within, and that taken from the bottom of 

 the tree, has a strong clove smell and taste; hut higher up, the smell is not 



