344 I'HILOSOHHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1729- 



tirely contrary to the course of nature and observation: nor is it to be believed 

 that there is any one tree whatever, in any part of the world, which, if it was 

 entirely stripped of its bark, could subsist and grow any longer; that part at 

 least where the bark has been taken off quickly becomes dry, and so dies away; 

 but the root remains entire and in good condition; and this shows the reason 

 why there is such a number of trees iit to be barked every year. For though 

 the cinnamon tree, after the bark has been once taken off, is cut down to the 

 very root, as they do in Europe oaks, birch trees, alders and willows, yet the 

 root quickly pushes forth new shoots, which ripen in 3, 6, 7, or 8 years, some 

 sooner, some later, and then yield their quantity of the bark. 



Hence it appears how far the old roots are instrumental to the growth and 

 plenty of cinnamon trees, but the fruit which falls fron) the trees, contributes 

 very much towards the same end; and it is particularly owing to a certain kind 

 of wild doves, which from their feeding on the fruit of the cinnamon tree, they 

 call cinnamon-eaters, that these trees grow so plentifully in this island; for the 

 doves, when they fetch food for their young ones, flying here and there, dis- 

 perse vast quantites of the fruit all over the iields, which occasions the rise of 

 many thousand young trees, seen here and there along the roads in such quan- 

 tities together, that they look like a little wood. 



There is hardly any thing so universally grateful, and esteemed by all na- 

 tions, as true cinnamon. The oil drawn out of it by fire is reckoned one of the 

 strongest cordial medicines; the camphor which comes out of the root, is like- 

 wise of great use in several distempers ; as are also the oil of camphor, a very 

 costly thing; the leaves of the tree, and the oil distilled out of them; and 

 lastly, the fruits with their oil. In short, there is no part of the cinnamon 

 tree but what is of some singular use or other in physic. 



Albertus Seba further adds, that the flowers of the cinnamon are as large as 

 the Italian bean flowers, and of a blue colour. That the oil which is expressed 

 out of the fruit of the cinnamon tree, as also that which is boiled out of them, 

 is of a very good consistence and white, and is by the East India Company 

 called cinnamon wax, because the King of Candia causes candles to be made 

 of it, which for their agreeable scent are burnt only by himself and at his 

 court. However he permits his subjects to express the juice out of another 

 fruit, not unlike the fruit of the cinnamon tree ; but this juice being only a thin 

 fat substance, like oil of olives, they can only burn it in lamps. 



The Indians use this cinnamon wax also in physic, giving it inwardly in luxa- 

 tions, fractures, falls, contusions and bruises, that in case any inward part be 

 touched or bruised, it may by its balsamic virtues heal them. They give it 



