1 66 Some Account of the natural TroduStion* 



it from Bengal and China. The natives, however, draw-* 

 fm all portion of faccharine juice from the buds of the tree 

 called kitoul (the carriotta of Linna&us), the pith of which is 

 but litile inferior to the fago of the ealiem ifles. , 



The pepper plant flourifhes here, but its fruit is not equal 

 to that of the Moluccas : at the fame time it may be consi- 

 dered as an important article of commerce. 



The cardamum grows onlv at Matura, and a few other 

 parts; and is inferior to that which is produced on the coaft . 



Though the cultivation of the fweet potatoes is very Ample, 

 the quantity produced is not more than fufficicnt for home 

 confumption. 



The margora or agedorac (melia of Flora Zeylaniea) is 

 confidered as one of the moft valuable plants that Ceylon can 

 boaft of. It is efteemed as an admirable fuccedaneum for 

 the quinquina; and its leaves are fo obnoxious to moths and 

 deilructive infects, that they will preferve woollen cloths, 

 linen, and books, from being infefted by them. 



Fruit-trees are in great abundance, though their produce 

 is not in general admired by Europeans, who are accutlomed 

 to thofe of a fuperior flavour. The fruit of Ceylon is how- 

 ever, in general, fuperior to that of the peninfula, particu- 

 larly its lemons, oranges, and pompel-mos. 



The goraka is a pulpy fruit, whofe flavour is blended with 

 an agreeable acid. It is of a round fhape, and deeply in- 

 dented. The peal is employed as a culinary article by the 

 natives. The tree that bears it exudes a yellowim refm, 

 which produces a tolerable varnifli. This tree has been ge- 

 nerally confounded with the gockal- tree, thatdiflils the gam- 

 boge, and from which feveral hundred weight of this gum 

 might be annually drawn. There is alfo a great variety of 

 trees which grow fpontaneoufly in the woods : they bear dif- 

 ferent fruits, though generally more or lefs of an acid tafte, 

 and much ufed by the people of the country in the confec- 

 tionary, which forms fuch an important article in their en- 

 tertainments. 



The nux vomica, which muft be ranked among the poi- 

 fonous plants, is a native of this ifland ; but is applied to no 

 ufe whatever. In the fame clafs may be placed the palma 

 chrijlt, from whence the caflor oil is extracted; which forms 

 a fmall article of trade. 



The banc- is a kind of pulfe, and might be rendered an 

 article of very great utility. Toe (tern of this plant is from 

 three feet and a half to four feet in length, and furni flies a 

 flax, which is twitted into a long rope. It is particularly 

 employed by fiihermen for their nets and lines, from the 



extraordinary 



