Note 62 — Chapter VIII

Derived from two Malay words, Kayu puti, signifying “white wood;” (Kayu, wood; puti, white). The mode of preparing the oil is as follows:—“The leaves are collected in a hot dry day, and put into thoroughly dry bags, in which, nevertheless, they soon spontaneously heat and become moist, as if macerated in water. They are then cut in pieces, infused in water, and left to ferment for a night, after which they are distilled. The quantity of oil they yield is very small, scarcely more than three fluid drachms being obtained from two bags of leaves.”—Rumphius.

“When newly drawn it is very limpid, pellucid, and volatile; and Rumphius says, smells strongly of cardamoms, but is more pleasant. On account of the high price of real Caju puti oil, it is said to be often adulterated with oil of turpentine, and coloured with resin of milfoil.”—Thompson’s London Dispensary, 8vo. page 416.