LA URINES. 203 



from Canton in chests lined with lead or tinned iron weiirhino' 



G""**0 



about 1 cwt. each, and from the Japan ports in double tubs 

 which contain about the same quantity. The imports into 

 India have an average annual value of seven lacs of rupees. 

 Refined camphor from Europe now forms an important item 

 in these imports, and some years ago refined camphor was 

 also imported from Japan, but lately it has disappeared from 

 the market. The price of camphor in India is now regulated 

 by the European market^ and of late has been extremely 

 variable. 



CINNAMOMUM CASSIA, Bhmc. 



Fig. — Benti. and Trim., t. 223. China cinnamon, Cassia 

 (Eng.), Cannelle de Chine (Fr.). 



Hab. — China, The bark and essential oil. 



Vernacular.— BaYohini {Hind.), Dalchini {Benrj., Mar.^Guz,), 

 Lavanga-pattai {Tarn., Tel., Mai.), Lavanga-patte {Can,). 



History, Uses, &C. — Cinnamon and Cassia are men- 

 tioned as precious odoriferous substances in th(5 Mosaic writ- 

 ings and by Theophrastus and many other writers of antiquity. 

 1 he Greek names 'cti^m/ixtu/ioi/ and '^«o"«'« or Koo-crm are derived from the 

 Phoenician, and are the same as those used by the Hebrews. 

 From Gralen we learn that these two spices were of a similar 

 nature, but that cassia was inferior to cinnamon. It is im- 

 possible to say for certain what these substances were, but it 

 seems probable that Kiwaiiwy^ov was Chinese cassia, and Kaa^a the 

 bark of the Indian cinnamon trees. Dioscorides describes 

 several varieties of cinnamon and cassia, and we know that 

 several very distinct varieties of Cinnamon bark are still sold in 

 Indian bazars. That Ceylon cinnamon was not known to the 

 ancients appears to be certain, as the sacred books and old 

 records of Ceylo.n make no mention of that spice, and when tlie 

 bark began to be collected in the island is unknown. Kaz 



wini 



mentions 



was not cultivated before 1770. 



