I2Z S U M A t R A. 
are imported to Canton^ in the year, and fell there at the mte of two 
tlioufand dollars the pecnl*# 
The Chlnefe prepare^ as is general J y luppofed, a faOiitious fub fiance re- 
fembling this native camphire, and impregnated with its virtuesj by xh& 
admixture of a foall quantity of the genuine; which they fell to the 
Dutch for thirty or forty dollars the peciil, who afterwards refine it to 
the flate in which we fee it in our fhops, where it is fold for eight 
■Ihlllings the jwund weight. This appears an extraordinary circumftance, 
that any article could poffibly be fo adulterated ; and at the fame time 
bear the likenefs, and retain the qualities of its original', as that the 
-dealers Ihould be able, with profit to themrelves^ to fell ic again for the 
fiftieth part of the price they gave. But upon enquiry from an ingenious 
gentleman long refidcnt in China, I learned that the Chinefe, or more 
properly, the Japan camphire, is not a fad:itious fubftance, but the pure 
produce of a tree which grows in abundance in the latter country, dif- 
ferent entirely from that of Sumatra, and well known to our botanifls 
by the name of Laurus Cam^h&ra* : that they never mis the native fort 
(as we term it) with the Japan, but pur chafe the former for their own 
\jfe, at the above extravagant price, from an idea, fuperfiitions proba- 
bly, of its eificacy, and export the latter, as a drug they hold in no 
eftimation. Thus, we buy the leaves of their tea plant, at a high rate, 
and negled herbs, the produce of our own foil, poflefling at leaft equal 
virtues. It is known, that the camphire termed fadikious, will eva- 
]X)rate tijl.it wholly difappears, and at all periods of its diminution^, re- 
tain its full ftrength, which do not fecra the properties of an adulterated 
or compounded body. Kemfer fays that it is prepared from a d^cociion 
of the wood and roots of the tree, cut into fmall pieces. The native fort^ 
y See Fnce Currents o£ the Ctvina Market. Campliire was purcjiafcd on Sumam bj Beaulieu, 
in i6ii, at the i^te of fifteen Spamlh ddlars for tw^ty «i^t ounces, which differs but litfte 
Tfom the raoiJern price. 
* SfkKuneas of the Leaves of the Japan Camphire tr«, and thofe of the Sumatran or Bor- 
iiean Camphire, may be fcen b a ptate in Fatintm HSfma SimpUdum, Page Tab. 7* 
*hough 
