of the Malabar Cardamom, 243 



carried down to shops, or little storehouses, erected by Mopla 

 merchants, or agents, in different places along the whole range of 

 hills, and at a little distance from the farms. Here thej are sub- 

 jected to another and final operation by the venders to the whole- 

 sale merchants on the coast. This consists in holding them over 

 a gentle and slow fire in flat baskets, while the assistants con- 

 tinue rubbing them betwixt their hands for a certain time; which 

 has the effect of detaching what remains of the permanent cal3'x 

 and foot-stalks, or other adhering membranes, and gives the pod 

 that appearance and marketable quality delineated in Tab. V. 

 figs. 14 and 15. This operation is termed in Malabar Terimbous, 

 a word expressive of its nature. The Cardamoms are now 

 Aveighed for the purpose of ascertaining the respective quotas of 

 rent payable by the different farmers. The result of this is expect- 

 ed to correspond with a previous estimation of the quantity of the 

 crops, taken on the ground before they arrive at maturity ; on the 

 approach of which, an ofhcial deputation, consisting of public 

 officers and some of the head men of tlie country well acquainted 

 with the subject, repairs to the Ela-Kanclys, attended by the 

 proprietors, and there makes the calculation from the combined 

 consideration of the extent of ground, age of the plantation, 

 and general appearance of the fruit-stalks then in full bearing. 

 Four or five of the visitors, whose interests are supposed to be 

 neutral, and equally unbiassed betwixt Government and the 

 Ryot, successively and seriously deliver their opinions ; from 

 the average of which the official attendants strike a mean, and 

 mutual satisfaction is generally the consequence. This previous 

 step is designed to serve as a comparative check to the measuriiifr 

 after the final drying of the pods, when they are expected to bear 

 the proportion of one-fifth to the quantity of the green as before 



estimated. 



