22A 



ISLAND OF CEYLON. 



fand of the vallies, come to maturity in iive years. Sel^a fays, 

 that the ages of the trees are fourteen, fifteen, or fixteen years. 

 It is the heat which gives the bark that quilled form in which it 

 comes over to us, efpecially the fmaller and more deUcate fort, 

 which is taken from the fmalier branches. The bark is firll 

 freed from the external coat, when it is on the trees ; is then 

 cut lengthways, dripped off, dried in the fand, and fo becomes 

 merchantable. 



The barkers of cinnamon are brought up to the trade, and 

 are called Chialiajes. The account given by Mr, Efcheljkroon 

 of the management, is moft authentic; from him I fliall tranf- 

 cribe what will be highly fatisfaftory to the readers. At page 

 339 of Wolfe's account of the ifle of Ceylon, he begins thus : — 

 " The time for barking the tree commences in the months of 

 ** June and Julv, and fometimes even in Augujl : now as foon as 

 " they come out of their villages for that purpofe, every dif- 

 *' tri<5t fends a detachment of Dutch foldiers, and another com- 

 " pofed of the natives themfelves, called Lafcaryns, along with 

 *' them, in order to guard the wood where they are to work, 

 *' and this partly on account of the roving Cingalefe moun- 

 " taineers, which fometimes fall on the barked cinnamon, and 

 " make it their booty ; but ftill more for the purpofe of having 

 " an eye upon the Chialtafes themfelves, that they may not be 

 " able to conceal any of the cinnamon, and afterwards carry 

 « it off. 



" The bark that is peeled during the day, mull be carried every 

 ** evening to the Dutch guard, belonging to their refpedlive dif- 

 ♦* trials; there cleanfed, well dried, and made up into bundles, 

 " and afterwards taken in clofe cafes to the fadlory, where they 



" are 



