i,^, WESTERN H I N D O O S T A N. 



aromaticus^ Nardus, Cojtus, Xyloclnnamomumt Afpalathos, and 

 Sefama, or the oil extrafted from its feed. 



Cassia. Bastard cinnamon, the Ccijfia of the fliops, and Laurus 



Cojfia, Burman. Zeyl. 63, tab. 28, grows here in great plenty, 

 and the bark is a great article of commerce in India : fome 

 little is fent to Europe, but the confumption is very fmall, as we 

 prefer the true fpecies : the bark is more red, and has a lefs 

 flavor. It is faid, that the forefts of Malabar produce annually 

 two hundred thoufand pounds weight. 



It is endlefs to enumerate the plants or trees of India ; the 

 knowledge of its vegetable kingdom can only be learned from the 

 number of books exprellly written on the fubjedt ; yet, in the 

 courfe of this topography, 1 fliall incidentally give a brief account 

 of the moll: Angular, or the moft ufeful. In this place I fliall de- 

 tain the reader a little longer than ufual, to mention the ufeful 



Bamboo Ried. Bamboo, a reed which is found frequent in the country. It is 

 the retreat of tigers, panthers, bears, and other beafts of prey ; 

 and the haunt of infinite numbers and varieties 'of the monkey 

 tribe. Botanifts ftyle \\. Ariindo Bainbos, ■xACi. Arundo arbor', it 

 is an evergreen. The Item is of a vivid green, but as it grows 

 older, becomes of a duller color. I refer to the Syjlema Flanta- 

 rum for the fynonym^s. Rumphius, iv. 8, defcribes, but does not 

 give its figure. In the Hortus Malabaricus, i. tab. 16, it is 

 found under the title of Ily. Bamboo is not the Indian name, 

 but one impofed on it by the Portuguefe, from the violent ex- 

 plofion the hollows give on being fet on fire, occafioned by the 

 confined air, little inferior to that of a piece of artillery. This 

 plant grows to a prodigious height, fo as to over-top all trees of 

 t the 



