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 \ l /\ 
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 l /i 
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 I Vi 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, voi. 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. 
