524 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1817. 



This statement shows that the 

 average anmial exjjortation of cin- 

 namon on accaunt of the com- 

 pany, from the year 1804 to 1.S06 

 inclusive, amoiuits to 290,018 lb.: 

 and that from the year 1807 to 

 1814 inclusive it amoimts to 

 370,913 lb., and the annual ex- 

 pense for this period to 14,223/. 

 or about 9rf. per lb. 



For a number of years inclu<lecl 

 in this period the premium upon 

 bills drawn upon tlic company on 

 account of the investment cannot 

 be estimated at less than 30 per 

 cent. This premiimi is evidently 

 amply adequate to liquidate the 

 expense incurred annually by go- 

 vernment on account of the culti- 

 vation and prcparati;/n t)f cisina- 

 mon. 



In 1804 a con.^idcrable tpiantity 

 of oil w"as distil!e<l from tlie re- 

 jected cinnamon : the quantity I 

 have not been able 'o ascertain. 



The Ceylon government has fur 

 a number of years annually dis- 

 posed of part of the rejected cin- 

 namon to private nieichants, and 

 generally at about 2s. per \h. The 



merchants purchase it with the 

 avowed purpose of supplying the 

 Indian markets : great part of it, 

 howe%er, eventually reaches Eng- 

 land under the denomination of 

 casia. 



Cinnamon oil to the amount 

 of about 3,000 oz. has within these 

 few months been prepared : apart 

 of which has been forwarded to 

 England. 



liy the foregoing statement, it 

 will apj)ear that the Ceylon go- 

 vernment gain very considerably 

 by the cultivation and pieparation 

 of cinnamon. Cinnamon being a 

 staple commodity on Ceylon and 

 the Malabar coast, and as these 

 situations possess many peculiar 

 and natural advantages for extend- 

 ing the commerce in this article of 

 trade, it appears to be a great 

 want of foresiu,ht or industry to 

 look with an eye of indifference 

 uijon the rapidly increasing trade 

 of China m cinnamon. The cul- 

 tivation of cinnamon might be 

 carried to any extent on Ceylon, 

 and with every prospect of profit. 



The cheapness of labour, in con- 

 sequence 



