330 
ON THE CAMPHOR-TREE OF SUMATRA. 
de Vereenigde Geodrijirdee 0. I. Cumpagnie ; gedrukt in den 
jare 1646." 
What is told us of this tree by Valentyn, in the year 1680, 
is in many respects remarkable, and proves at the same time, 
how much the tree was already considered worthy of attention. 
Mich. Bern. Valentyn gives the following statement on this 
subject, which was in 1680 communicated to him by Arent 
Sylvius : — 
" The Camphor-tree is found in several forests. Without any 
culture or human aid, it grows luxuriantly like other forest-trees, 
and elevates its lofty, heavy, unbranched, and straight trunk, and 
forms a crown of moderate extension, but which may be called 
small in proportion to the trunk, and which is furnished with few 
and not heavy branches. 
" The leaves are oblong ovate, with a strong, lengthened point 
( c apice prolixe extenso.') In a dry state they are of a dark green 
color. They are hard, tough, and smell like camphor. This is 
said of the tree of Baros, for in that of Java (that is, of Japan,) 
the leaves are differently formed and much larger than those 
of the tree first mentioned, as may be seen by the seventh plate 
of Valentyn. 
" The bark is fine and reddish ; when the tree becomes old and 
thick, it falls off in large pieces ; by this property the tree may be 
partly distinguished from others. Roots several feet in length 
are also often to be seen above ground. 
" The fruit, which is obtained with difficulty in consequence of the 
heighth of the tree, resembles more a flower than a fruit, as it has 
more or less an oblong and thick variously-colored leaves, which 
are generally red, violet, yellow or greenish, and enclose the fruit 
like a hazle-nut. The fruit has a hard shell; the enveloping 
leaves are elevated above it, and are not pointed, but have red 
tips, spread out above like the petals of a tulip. The fruit, 
which, like the leaves, has a taste of camphor, is not only 
useful for medicinal purposes, but may be employed as food, 
and, like many other fruits, makes a good confection. The fruit 
is not easily obtained, as it is dangerous to penetrate the 
woods. 
When the tree has attained some size, the resin does not stream 
out like benzoin ; but near the pith, or heart, are natural fissures, 
