Queer Language

One of the qmeerest langnages iu tlia worli nsed for the qneerest purposes, j is th? 'camphor laiguage"bf Jobore, ; a coun.ry of the Malay península. It has lately been studied anti reporter! upon by Air. Lake, au English eiigineer in the service uï the sultan of Johore. This language is called the "Pautang Kapor," or camphor language, and ís used by the natives and all others who are engaged in gathering the product of the i Malayan camphor tree and only af that time. If they used either of the languages of the región, the Malay or the : aboriginal Jakun, the uatives believe that they could not obtain any camphor, j and for a mosteuriousreason. The camphor tree, Dryoblauops camphora, grows ; abundantly iu certain parts of the peninsula, but only occasionally contados j camphor crystals. The camphor is uot the same as that obtained froru the camphor aurel of Formosa and Japau, which is the sourceof the ordinary camphor of commerce. It is a sort very highly prized by the Chinese iu the embalming of their dead, in inceuse and in medicine, and the gum brings much more than the common camphor. The Malayans and other Johore natives believe thac each species of tree has a spirit or divinity that presides over its affairs. The spirit of the camphor tree is known by the name of Bisan - literally "a vvoman. " Her resting place is near the trees, and when ac níght a peculiar noise is heard in the woods, resembling thac of a cicada, the Bisan is believed to be singiug, and camphor will surely be found in the neighborhood. But the spirit of the cam phor tree seems to be jealous of the pre cious gum and must be propitiated, and if she knows that hunters are iu quest of it she will endeavor to turn their steps aside. So it is necessary to speak in a tongne which she does not understand. For this purpose the "camphor language" has been invented. It con sists of a mixture of Jakun and Malay words, but these are curiously altered and reversed, and the natives positively believe that the divinity of the camphor tree is completely confused. The Jakuns who hunt the camphor are one of the wildest of people, but inoffensive. They live together with monkeys, dogs, cats, innumerable fowls and perhaps a tame hornbill in perfect harmony under movable leaf shelters built ou poles in the woods.