VEGETABLE KINGDOM. I09 



kuei\ however, is also used for a red kiud of true cinnamon 

 bark, which comes from a variety of tree found most largely in 

 the province of Kuichou. A similar kind is known as ^ ;i^ 

 (Yao-kuei), and conies from the country of the Yao tribes. 



Another kind mentioned in the Pe.ntsao is 5^ ^ ;)^ (T'ien- 

 chu-kuei). Porter Smith, on the supposition that the first two 

 characters meant India, identified this with Cimia7nomum 

 tamala. But Li Shih-chen says that it is so named from a 

 place called T'ien-chu, in the prefecture of Taichou, Chekiang, 

 where it grows plentifully. It is a large tree, bearing abundant 

 flowers and a fruit the size of a lotus nut. The Buddhists 

 regard it as identical with the ^ j^ (Ylieh-kuei). In Japan it 

 is called Cinuauiomtini japoniciun^ which is the Cinnafnomiwi 

 pedunculaturn of Nees. Its fruits are called j^ -^ (Kuei-tzu), 

 as are also those of the Yueh-kiiei (see Litsea glauca\ and the 

 immature flowers of the Cinnamonmm cassia; although the 

 proper name for these last is ;^ 'J' fKuei-ting), according to 

 the appendix to the Pentsao. 



The parts of the cinnamon tree now found in Chinese 

 commerce are the bark (557, 659, 667, 668, and 672); the 

 twigs (658, 660) ; the buds (,673) ; the peduncles (671) ; and the 

 oil (558, 669). The leaves are not found as an article of com- 

 merce, but the Chinese use the bruised fresh leaves in water 

 for cleansing the hair. The oil is manufactured in Canton and 

 exported, but much of that now found in China comes from 

 abroad, as it is of superior quality to the Chinese article and 

 sells as cheaply. It is used as a perfume and flavoring in- 

 gredient, and also as a substitute for the bark in medicine and 

 cookery. Dr. Williams says that the j^ ^ (Kuei-chih) are the 

 "extreme and tender ends of the branches" of the cassia tree, 

 such as are used in distilling oil at Canton. The leaves are 

 sometimes used in combination with these twigs for distilling 

 purposes. 



Kiiei-pH is met with on the Chinese market in half quills 

 of a foot in length, half an inch in diameter, and one-twelfth 

 of an inch in thickness. It is darker, closer in the grain, 

 thinner, and much less pungent than the Joii-kuei. This 

 latter, which is the "cinnamon" of Dr. Williams, is met with 

 in close, perfect quills, of the same length as the Ktiei-pH^ but 



