CINNAMON. 153 



16*55-6, tells us, that there are great quanti- 

 ties of cinnamon-trees in the province of 

 Quangsi, particularly near the city of Cin- 

 chew. He says, these trees differ in no re- 

 spect from those of Ceylon, excepting that 

 the scent is stronger, and the flavour hotter. 

 He adds, that these cinnamon-trees are 

 about the size of orange-trees, and have 

 many long straight branches, whose leaves 

 have some analogy to those of the laurel. 

 This tree bears a white well-scented flower, 

 followed by a fruit of the size of an acorn, 

 but which is not much regarded except by 

 the birds. A kind of pigeon that feeds on 

 this fruit, is the chief agent in propagating 

 these trees in Ceylon; for, in carrying the 

 fruit to a distance to its young, it often drops 

 it in various places, where it takes root. 



NievhofF says, it is the nature of these 

 trees to renew their bark in about three years, 

 when they may be peeled a second time; but 

 it appears to be the present practice in Cey- 

 lon to cut the trees down to the root as 

 soon as they are barked, and from the trunk 

 new shoots spring up, which in five or six 

 years become trees fit for barking. When the 

 cinnamon is freshly taken from the tree, it is 

 flat, and has little taste, smell, or colour ; but 



