ISLAND OF CEYLON. 



Crinum. Afiaticumy M'lIIer^s plates, tab. no, and the Cr'mum Zeyla- 



nicmiiy Trew's Ehret. tab. 13, is that elegant fpecies with a 

 white flower, and pale purple fl:rij)e. 



Gloriosa. Superba, Com. Hort. i. tab, 69, Ind. Zool. tab. 3, well merits 



the pompous name. The Cingaleje ftyle it Najajala, poliibly 

 from the root being poffeflcd of a poifon equally potent with 

 the fatal ferpent Naja. 



PotiAKTHEs, The tuberofe, Polianthes tuberofa, Rumph. Amboin. v. 



tab. 98, a flower of too exquifite a fcent for the majority of peo- 

 ple. It emits its odor molt ftrongly in the night. The Ma- 

 layans therefore ftyle it Sandal Malam, or the mijlrefs of the- 

 night \ comparing it to a frail fair, viliting her lover in the dark, 

 fweetly perfumed, and highly drefled. It was introduced into 

 England in 1664, and is mentioned by our Evelyn^ that glory of 

 his days, by the name of Tuberofe Hyacinth, in the Aiigujl of 

 his Kalendarium Hortenfe, 



Calamus. Rotangi Rumph. Amboin. v. tab. 51 to tab. 56, are the varieties 



of plants which yield the canes which are ufed to diftend the 

 hoops of the fair fex in Europe. They grow to lengths incredi- 

 ble, fome creeping along the ground, others climbing to the 

 fummits of the higheft trees, and form a moft grotefque iimili- 

 tude of cordage. 



MiMusops. Elengi, Rumph. Amboin. ii. tab. 63, approaches nearly the 



clove, and is remarkable for the rich odors of its flowers. 



Tameolifera. Pedunculata, ii. tab. 4^, is a fruit tree of no great value, 

 refembling an oblong plumb. 



Laurus. We now are to touch on the glory of Ceylon, perhaps of the 



vegetable kingdom. The Laurus cinnaniomum, Burman. Zeyl, 



tab. 27, Raii Hijl. PL ii. 1554 to 1563, U^Qodville, i. 80, Gerard, 



3 ^532. 



