246 Mi: AVuite's Description and Naiurat History 



inches in diameter. The absence of flowers prevented its genus 

 being ascertained. 



Tliough the natives of both Wynaad 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 my own observation. The 

 following is their history : 



In October 1802, when the rebellion broke out afresh in 

 Wynciad, I accompanied the first force sent to quell it. We for- 

 tified different points at the top of the Ghalits, some in the 

 neighbourhood of Cardamom ground, others where no farms 

 liad ever been established or thought of. Of this last descrip- 

 tion was a post at the top of Cottiour GhaAt. Besides clearing 

 away the grounds adjacent, a great many broad alleys, leading 

 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 Gha^t. No further labour had been bestowed on 

 them after our departure ; and the similarity of shade and ex- 

 posure, 



