For transport from the interior, the camphor is packed in large vats or tubs, provided with escape holes at the bottom, and is stowed in carts of rude construction. Through these holes, exudes an oily or uncrystallizable liquid, known as " camphor-oil " (q. v. post). Almost all the camphor produced in Formosa is shipped from the free-trade port of Tamsui, at the northern extremity of the island. It is the characteristic export of the place, and one of the most interesting, forming the main supply of the European markets. It is the only commodity, either of export or import, for which tho Transit Pass system is ncuule use of. From Tamsui, the camphor is conveyed by native craft to Hong Kong, Shanghai, or Canton. Hitherto, owing to its being comparatively loosely packed, and containing a large percentage of water absorbed during its sublimation from the wood, the loss caused by evaporation during the journey between the two ports has been very large. The Customs allow for an estimated decrease of 5 per cent. (formerly 11 per cent. was the allowance); but the actual loss often amounts to 20 per cent. Lately, a hydraulic press has been established by ono of the foreign firms trading at Tamsui, and the loss has thereby been reduced below the Customs' allowance. Chinese shippers have not yet learnt to appreciate the advantage gained; but it will be strange if they do not soon avail themselves of it. Until 1868, the Chinese Government enjoyed a monopoly of the Formosan camphor trade ; but it was then thrown open, with very bene ficial results. In 1870 and 1871, attempts were made to re-establish the monopoly, under cover of a tax of less than a fd. per lb., in itself unimportant. With the removal of the objectional features of the impost, merchants have rested content, and things have gone smoothly since.
There is no doubt that the supply of camphor laurels in Formosa. is being gradually exhausted, though a number sufficient to satisfy the needs of many years still remains. The seaboard has been stripped of its shrubs; but throughout the mountainous interior, the forests are still untouched. At Posia, a fertile plain among the hills in the middle of the island, 1VIr. Bullock's party, in 1873, found an abundance of camphor laurels; but the civilized aborigines inhabiting the spot are ignorant of their value. The prices ruling in Formosa, in 1872, gave a profit of 2 to 3 dollars (dollar -= 4s. ld.) a picul (133i lb.) to the producer. For the western consumer, the Formosan camphor is reshipped, from the Chinese ports mentioned above, in square chestst ined with lead-foil or tinned-iron, containing lf to cwt. each. It consists of small dirty-greyish grains congregated together, their sp. gr. when pure being 0.98 to 0.99. It is always wet, as the merchants cause water to be poured into the cases before shipment, with a view, it is pretended, of lessening the loss by evaporation. The statistics of Formosan camphor production are as follow :— 1870. 17,239 cwt., value in place, 29,080/. Of this quantity, 12,368 cwt. were exported, viz.:— to China, 7890 cwt. ; Japan, 2576 ; Bombay, 311 ; Strait Settlements, 1023; Germany, Holland, and Franco, 568. The bulk of that sent to Eastern markets was re-exported to
tho West, the portion which reached England being valued at 45,249/., or an average of 3/. 16s. 6d. per owt.
1871. 11,537 cwt., value in place, 15,048/.
1872. 17,500 „ 1873. 12,239 „ 23,633.
1874. 14,380 „ 25,666. Nearly all of this was sent to Hong Kong, aud 3556 cwt. were ascertained to have been re-exported.
1875. 8,499 cwt., value in place, — 1876. (About) 11,700 „ 1877. „ 17,500 „ 23,710/. Of which about 2700 cwt. went direet to non-Chinese ports.
The imports of Formosan camphor to this country are about six tinacs as great as those from Japan.
2. China.—An inconsiderable quantity of camphor is produced near Chinchew, in the province of Fokien, on the mainlaud of China. The method of preparation, which differs from that in vogue in Formosa, ia as follows. The freshly gathered branches of the laurel are chopped into small pieces, and steeped for two ar three days in water ; they are then boiled in a suitable vessel, meanwhile being continually stirred about with a stick, until the grains begin to adhere to it in the form of a white jelly. The fluid is then poured off into glazed vessels, and is left at rest for some houre, when the camphor will be found in a concreted mass. The crude drug is then purified as in Formosa.
The shrub also flourishes in the Chusan Archipelago, growing to a large size if permitted ; the natives, however, only use the wood, and do not extract the camphor as on the main.
3. Japan.—The camphor laurel is widely distributed throughout the three principal islands of Japan. It flourishes best in the southern portion of the empire, viz:in the province of Toaa, in Sikok ; the mild, damp sea-air favours its growth here, and the principal preparation of the drug is carried on in this locality. The districts of Satsuma and Bung° also produce considerable quan tities ; the exports are chiefly from the ports of Osaka and Hiogo, and in much inferior proportions from Nagasaki.
The distillation of the camphor is carried on throughout the year; but the best results are obtained in winter. The workmen choose a space where the trees are abundant, and there build a temporary dwelling and a camphor still. When the patch is exhausted, the buildings are taken down and trans ported to another locality. The distilling process is very simple; but is much in advance of the methods practised in China and Formosa. A tree is chosen, and as soon as it is felled, the trunk, large roots, and boughs are cut up into small uniform chips, by means of a short-handled axe, and are drawn in barrows to the still. This is commonly placed on an incline, in the neighbourhood of a rivulet, which will furnish water for the wet distillation of the camphor. The most general arrangement of still and condenser, adopted in the Toss district, is shown in Fig. 461. On a small circular stone wall A, serving to form a firo place, lies an iron plate F, 2i in. thiek. This is covered by a numerously perforated lid, luted tightly with day, which at the same time forms the bottom E of the vessel B, which is 3 ft. 4 in. high, and 18 in.