244 Mr. White's Description and Natural History 



estimated. This proportion is judged to be most favourablis to 

 the proprietors, as actual experiments prove it at least to be as 

 25 to 100; but Government is thus moderate, to encourage the 

 honesty of the farmers, and to remove all inducement to its 

 clandestine exportation. The duties, or customs, are paid only 

 on exportation from the province by sea or land : they amount to 

 twelve per cent., and the average price is rated at 1200 rupees 

 per candy of C40 pounds avoirdupois. 



The total produce of Wynaud may amount, one year with 

 another, to something above fifty candies, perhaps fifty-six; 

 and this grows on an extent of more than 100 miles, reckoning 

 the sinuosities and angles of the hills. The kingdom or country 

 of the Coorja Rajah produces less by ten or fifteen candies. The 

 whole site of the growth of this spice on the continent of Hin- 

 dostan extends from the Soubramany Gha<it, nearly due east 

 from Mangalore, to Mannaar GbaClt in the same direction from 

 Calicut. 



If nature be propitious to the progress of this valuable pro- 

 duction from youth to maturity, she has been no less kind in 

 providing for this last stage, in refusing to the generality of the 

 inmates of the forest any appetite for the fruit. The natives 

 mention only a few of the smaller animals whose depredations are 

 felt, viz. two kinds of squirrels, a large and small species, and the 

 field rats ; but as they did not dwell much on the damage thence 

 accruing, it is to be presumed that it cannot ampunt to much. 



The evils attendant on the reaping to the Kourch-ara, Pani- 

 ara, &c., who perform the labour, are much more serious. The 

 sling of the green whip-snake, abounding in those situations, is 

 instantly fatal, no antidote having yet been found to arrest its 



poison. 



Fevers 



