raerce besides the Chinese Cassia bark, which is obtained from 
Sumatra, and is probably Cinnamomum Culitlawnn, Bl., and a 
similar tree occurs in the forests of the Peninsula. Most of the 
Cinnamons are highly aromatic and possibly several others might 
be used in place of C. Cassia. 
Pepper-oil has been distilled from Black Pepper ( Piper nigrum) 
for many years. Indeed it is recorded as having been prepared 
as early as 1574. It is chiefly used medicinally. For some time 
it was prepared in Singapore where I am informed the natives 
considered it a specific against cholera. Piperonal or Hehotropme 
is prepared from white Singapore pepper, in Europe. It has a 
scent of heliotrope. , . ... 
Cubebs (Piper cubeha) also produces an oil valued in medicine. 
The cubeb plant was formerly much cultivated in Java and Sumatra 
('Bulletin 1st Series No. 6, p. 121), and the price of the pepper was 
very high. It has fallen, however, much in price and the cultiva- 
tion has pretty well died out of the Straits. 
Oil of Betle leaves (Piper belle , L.) has been, it appears, repeat- 
edly prepared and investigated, but apparently has been found of 
little value though it is a somewhat peculiar oil. I lie leaves of the 
plant are, as is well known, used for chewing by the Malays with 
areca nut, and in good demand for this purpose. 
Oil of Patchouli (Pogostemon Patchouli ). — The cultivation of 
this plant is described in No. 3 of the first Series of Agricultural 
Bulletin. Although the plant has been introduced into several 
other parts of the world, it does not seem to have been paiticularly 
successful, as the greater portion of the Patchouli of commerce 
still comes from the Straits Settlements. It is raised from cuttings 
and when sufficiently tall, cut and dried in the sun. 'I he leaves 
being either sent home dry or the oil distilled in Singapore. The 
bulk of Patchouli oil is probably distilled in Europe. It is used 
exclusively in perfumery. 
The oif of the common Lantana (L. Camara , L.) has been dis- 
tilled at Buitenzorg. Its odour is stated to be not particularly 
pleasant and unfortunately no use has been found for it. 
The sweetly scented Lagundi tree Vitex ti if alia has also been 
put through the still and '"produces an aromatic camphor-like oil. 
It is a common seashore shrub or small tree, with sw r eet scented 
leaves, and panicles of violet flowers. It is used medicinally by 
natives. 
Oil of Sweet Basil, Oeymum basilicum , L. The “Ruku ’ of the 
Malays is a strongly scented little bush, the leaves of which are 
much valued for scenting clothes and also in medicine. It is com- 
monly planted about villages, and establishes itself readily growing 
from the seed. I have not heard of the oil being manufactured in 
th e Straits, but it is distilled in Southern France and Spain from 
the fresh plant. The plant seems to be rather variable, and there 
are several named varieties and allied species in cultivation, in the 
East, and the account given in Gildemeister’s work seems to 
show that the oils from different localities have different consti- 
tuents. This is probably due in part at least to different varieties 
