y 
r 
82 
Jf 
from th 
1 4 
matitier of curing the Cinnamori. Mr. Wl 
and Mr. Combes, who have invefligated this fubjed with confiderable 
racias, and determine this queflion in the 
attention, agree 
affirmative.* - 
with G 
The ufe of the Cinnamon-tree is not confmed to the b 
for 
is remarkable that the 
very different qual 
the fru 
d of 
d the root, all yield oils of 
« 
nfiderable value : that produced 
from the leaves is called Oil of Cloves, and Oleum Malabathri : that 
obtained from the fruit is extremely fragrant, of a thick confiflence, 
; and 
the bark of the root not only affords an aromatic effential oil, or what 
and at Ceylon is made into candles, for the fole ufe of the King 
y ' 
■* AccorJing to many botanical writers tlie principal marks of dIftin6lIon of thefe 
plants are to be found in the leaf, which in the Cinnamon of Ceylon is more oval and 
lefs pointed than the others, and the nerves do not reach to the margin ; while in tiie 
1:^ 
continued to the extremity of the. leaf. 
c , 
Refpe£ling the bark it is well known to be lefs vi^arm and grateful to the tafte, mani- 
b 
mon. 
Mr. Wh 
with the alliftance of Dr. Matty, carefully compared the 
fpecimens of the Cinnamon-tree, (commonly called Caffia) which he had from Sumatra, 
ftiM 
colle6lions 
we find 
of Boerhaave, Courteen, Plukenet, an 
able, as fully to jaftify his opinion. I 
fuperadded to the defcription of Caffia, '^ Efle modo V^rietatem prsecedentis, (Cinnam.) 
foliis 
difference of the bark 
anguftioribus et obtufioribus,. Thunberg in Afbe Stockh. 1780. p. 56. Th 
I 
Offic 
a Cinnamomo feu Canella diftin6tam faciurit, Caffiam Cin'namomo craffiorem plerumque 
efTe colore rubicundiorem', fubftantia duriorem,- folidiorem & compaftiorem, guftu 
efTe colore 
magis glutmolo, odore quidem & 
momo imbeciUiorem & minus veg 
But Mr. White favs, '^ From th< 
fhall 
Tho. Tohnfon 
jy 
s 
appear, that thefe differences are merely accidents, arifmg from the age of the Canella, 
the part of the tree from whence it is gathered, and from the manner of cultivating and 
curing it.'^ And he obferves, ^^ If any conjecture can arife from hence, it may be> 
that the Cinnamon of Ceylon was formerly, as well as that of Sumatra and Malabar, 
called Caffia; but that the Dutch writers, being acquainted with the excellent qualities 
which the ancients afcribed to their Cinnamon, chofe to add the name Cinnamon to that 
of Caffia ; and in procefs of time they have found the name of Cinnamon more profita- 
ble than that of Caffia, by which we chufe to call our Canella, to our national lofs of 
many thoufands a year." (Phil. Tranf. vol. 50, p. 887.) How far, the reafoning of 
Mr. White is really well founded, we leave to the judgment of others ; it may however 
be remarked, that his opinion is not a little fupported, from the confideration that the 
Cinnamon plant varies exceedingly, even in the ifland of Cv^w^^j ^ 
^colleded nine different fortSj and Seba a^ually defcribes ten, 
• ' lias 
CeyloHj where B 
3 
i 
4 
X 
I 
>- 
- ) 
s 
i 
*f^ 
/ 
1 
\ 
