A VISIT TO THE HAIGAHS. 141 



manner of its growth is as follows : 

 the prospecter for cardamom cultiva- 

 tion selects a forest glade where shade 

 and sunshine are fairly balanced ; it 

 must be sheltered and moist, and the 

 trees it grows, must be of the soft- 

 wooded kinds which decay rapidly after 

 they are cut down. 



These trees are felled and left to rot 

 on the ground for three years, and at 

 the end of that time the cardamom 

 springs up unsown, owing its existence, 

 apparently, simply to certain conditions 

 of soil and climate. I do not venture 

 into the scientific arena, but personally 

 I find no difficulty in believing that 

 the productive energy imparted to the 

 earth under the Divine command to 

 "bring forth " abundantly, is still active 



