The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-15
CAMPHOR MAKING IN FORM0SA.
The Industry Is PrecariOus, Owing to
the Attacks on the stills.


One of the chief industries Of Formosa is
the manufacture of camphor gum from the
camphor laurel tree. 1t is fairly profitable
work. but, as described in a British For
eign Office report, the difficulties connected
with Ii are by no means light. In the first
place. the camphor laurel grows in savage
territory only, and the hillmen of Hakkas,
who border on that territory. have to make
monetary or other arrangements with the
savage chiefs to protect, or refrain from
farmers set up in their country. These ar
rangementS are, as a rule very unsatisfac-
tory, FOR as soon as trouble arises, no mat
proceed without delay to vent their resent
ment on the stills, which are promptly de-
stroyed. Several foreign firms are engaged
In the trade, and their method of conduct
ing the business is worthy of notice. Adj
vances are made to the hillmen on condi-
ton that they set up certain number of
stoves, supply monthly fixed amount of
camphor at price agreed upon, and repay
the advances by installments at certain
and securities are given by the hillmen for
the due performance Of their contracts;
Chinese and the foreign consular authori-
ties that consular assistance cannot be in
voked for the recovery of advances made
in the caIrphor business.
AS soon as the hillmen have settled all
preliminart"s with the savage chiefs, and a
suitable spot has been fxed among the
the former proceed TO run up a shed or
rough building, the size of which depends
upon the number of stoves it is intended to
contain. If ten are to be erected, the
building would be twenty feet long by
twelve feet or thirteen feet broad, is built
of sun-dried mud bricks, having five fire
places, or holes, at each side raised a foot
or so above the floor of the room. The two
ends of the structure are solid, and with
out fireplaces. The latter are so built that
an earthenware pot can easily be inserted
above the fire in each hole. An earthen-
ware cylinder connects the mouth of each
pot with the surface of the structure, or
/
Between the pot and the lower end of the
cylinder there is round, thin piece OF
wood fitting both the mouth of the pot and
the lower end of the cylinder, and perfor-
ated so as to allow the steam from
tRf ateF during ri the to Tne top
each cylinder is usually about foot in
diameter, and is level with the surface of
the still. Such still would present to the
eye a mud structure, with ten round holes
on the top and five fireplaces at each of
the two longest sides; TO complete 1t, how
quired. These, during the process of dis
tilation, are placed, inverted, on the top or
the still Immediately over the upper ends
densers To prevent the escape of steam
from the condensers, bands of jute are fitted
firmly between their mouths and the top OF
Suppose, then, there is a heap of cam
phor-wood chips at hand, from which l.
is required 10 extract the camphor. The
pots are filled with water and the cylinders
with chips; the jars are IN position on the
top of the still, and the freWood is ngnted
under the pots. When the water boils the
steam passes up through the perforated
wood into the cylinders, heats and moist
ems the chips and ascends to the con.
fumes which the chips have given forth.
The steam then condenses on the inside
of the lars, and when the latter are re-
moved a LAYER of white camphor crystals
is found adhering to them. This Is brushed
off by hand and placed in baskets. The
chips are then withdraw from the cylln-
ders, fresh chips take their place water IS
added TO the pots, the condenserS are
again placed in position, additional fire.
wood is thrown into the fireplaces and the
work of distiliation rebeginS. The cam
pnor laurel attainS an enormous height ana
girth in Formosa. There is TO be seen
horizontal section of a stem which was
at least six feet in diameter and which,
at one time formed the entrance to the
house of savage chief -
Is now a trophy belonging TO q missionary,
and has to be Accommodated on the veranda
of his house. Much difficulty is experienced
by the hillmen in telling these forest giants,
and recourse is frequently had TO firing so
as to expedite their work. Quantities of
valuable timber thus consumed and as
no trouble is taken TO plant young trees,
the day will come when such waste will be
regretted The tree once felled, the
branches are removed and the trunk sawn
up into planks. Branches and planks are
armed with a small scoop-shaped adze,
every stroke of which removes a chip about
inch long. In time the giant Is reduced
TO a heap of chips, which are treated for
their camphor as described. The extract