Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1895-09-04
THE CAMPHOR LANGUAGE.

One of the strangest languages in
the world, used for the querest of pur-
poses. is the "oamphor language" of
Johore, country of the Malay PENN.
sula. 1t has lately been studied and
reported upon by Mr.. Lake, an English
engineer in the service of the Sultan
of Johore. This language is called
the "Pantang Kapor, or camphor Ian.
guage, and is used by the natives and
all others who are engaged in gather.
ing the product of the Malayan cam
phor tree. and only at that time. If
they used either of the languages Of
that region, the Malay or the aborigi-
nal Jakun, the natives believe that
they could not obtain any oamphor,
and for most curious reason.
The oamphor tree. Dryobalanops
camphora, grows abundantly in GER
tain parts of the peninsula. but only
occasionally contains camphor crystals.
The camphor is not the same as that
obtained from the camphor laurel of
Formosa and Japan, which is the
source of the ordinary oamphor of
vummoroo. IL IL Of II SORT very highly
priced by the Chinese in the embalm-
ing of their dead, in incense and in
medicine, and the gum brings price
much higher than that of the common
camphor.
The Malayans and other Johore
natives believe that each species cf
tree has spirit, or divinity, that pre-
sides over its affairs.
The spirit of the campbor tree is
known by the name of Bisan Literally
"a woman" Her resting place is
near the trees; and when, at night, a
peculiar noise is heard in the woods,
resembling that of cicada. the Bisan
is believed to be singing, and camphor
will surely be found in the neighbor-
hood.
But the spirit of the camphor trees
seems to be jealous of the precious
gum. and must be propitiated, and if
she knows that hunters are in quest of
it she will endeavor to turn their steps
aside. For from Mr.. Lakes account
the supposition is probable that the
natives think that she is acquainted
with both the Malay and Jakun lam
guages. and if the camphor hunters
spoke either of those she would know
that they had come for camphor, and
would defeat their purpose. So it is
necessary to speak in tongue which
she does not understand. For this
purpose the "camphor language" has
been invented. 1t consists of mixture
of Jakun and Malay words, but these
are curiously altered or reversed; and
the natives possibly believe that the
divinity of the camphor tree is COM
pletely confused when she hears this
jargon. They speak it when they are
on camphor expeditions.
The Jakuns who hunt the camphor are
one of the widest of people, but in
offensive. They live, together with
monkeys, dogs, cats, innumerable
fowls. and, perhaps, tame hornbill,
in perfect harmony, under movable
leaf shelters built on poles in the
woods.
They have formidable weapon in a
sort of blowpipe. not unlike the pipe
through which the American schoolboy
projects wet paper balls. The Johore
blowpipe is made of very long jointed.
straight variety of bamboo, which is
generally Rcarved and traced with
many rude devices.
The projectiles used il these are
thin splinters of wood about foot
long. having plug of pith at the
butt end. The point is as sharp as 6
needle. and is covered with black,
resinous substance, which in many
cases is extremely poisonous.