246 Mr. Wurre’s Description and Natural History 
inches. in diameter. The absence of flowers prevented its genus 
being ascertained. 
Though the natives of both Wynáad and Coorga affirm that 
the situations at present, and from time immemorial, producing 
Cardamoms, are the only places where they will thrive; yet, as 
they assign no reason for this, nor mention any experiments 
having been made to prove the fact, we have every right to 
doubt their testimony, and refer their opinion to those habits of 
indolence and local prejudice, which characterize the peasantry 
in most countries, and which beget in them a stupid aversion 
from all schemes of innovation and improvement. This sceptical 
suggestion receives great strength, if not confirmation, from a 
series of facts which have come under Dr, own observation. The 
following is their history : 
In October 1802, when the Felei Bike: out E in 
Wynâad, I accompanied the first force sent to quell it. We for- 
tified different points at the top of the Ghaüts, some in the 
neighbourhood of Cardamom ground, others where no farms 
had ever been established or thought of. Of this last descrip- 
tion was a post at the top of Cottiour Ghaüt. Besides clearing 
away the grounds adjacent, a great many broad alleys, Feci 
from the redoubt in various directions through thick and. lofty 
trees, down and around the hills to Darallour, (another stockade 
two miles further: inland,) were cut and cleared from grass and 
underwood by the pioneers. All these places I had the good for- 
tune to revisit the first ten. days of this month (October 1806), 
and was much gratified and interested by finding great abun- 
dance of the Cardamom plant growing luxuriantly, and bearing 
in a proportion equal to what I immediately afterwards observed 
at the Peria Ghaüt. No further labour had been bestowed on 
them after our departure ; a I = the retine: of shade and ex- © 
posure, 
