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VI. A Botanical Description and Napr "il History of the Malabar 
Cardamom. By Mr. David White, Surgeon on the Bombay 
Establishment. Communicated by the Ditectirs of the Hon. East 
India (company. With additional Remarks by William George 
Mato ps VPLS." 4c. 
Read November 15 amd December 6, 1808. 
Tue plant producing Cardamoms is a singular, if not unique, 
instance of one of the most valuable articles of modern luxury. 
being almost entirely indebted to the care of nature for its growth 
and perfection. 
Lofty hills, whose summits are ever clothed with clouds, a 
moist atmosphere, or copious rains for three-fourths of the year, 
and an exposure admitting but a limited proportionof the sun-beams, 
are the circumstances which, the natives tell us, and experience 
proves, are most favourable to its growth, and are the sole re- 
quisites for an abundant crop. Simple as the progress is which 
conducts it through various stages to maturity and a marketable 
state, the subject claims attention, and derives importance from 
the general estimation and extended use of the spice, asa grateful 
and salubrious accessary of diet: its use as such is so universal, 
that it is now in a manner regarded as a necessary of life by most 
of the inhabitants of Asia; and its general adoption by the ci- 
vilized nations of the other quarters of the world is prevented only 
by its limited importation. The possession of its trade has been 
NO. x. 2 nu | always 
