CABDAMOMS. 419 



per cwt. in bond. It is the rhizoma of Alpinia Galanga. Its taste 

 is peppery and aromatic. Externally the color of the root-stocks 

 is reddish brown, internally pale reddish white. 



1,286 cwt. of galangale root, valued at 2,880 dollars, was ex- 

 ported from Canton in 1S50. 



CAEDAMOMS. 



CARDAMOMS are the production of various^Jcies of plants of the 

 same tribe as the ginger, and might be profitably cultivated with 

 that aromatic root, as well as the Turmeric (Curcuma longa), which 

 see. 



Various species of Alpinice, Amomum, Elettaria, and Renealrnia, 

 appear to furnish the cardamoms of the shops, which consist of 

 the oval, trivalvular capsules containing the seeds. The brigh^ 

 yellow seeds are used in medicine as aromatic tonics and car- 

 minatives ; and for curries, ketchups, soups, &c. Their active 

 ingredient is a pungent volatile oil. The least dampness injures 

 the finer sorts. About 638 cwts. of cardamoms, and 5,000 cwta. 

 of bastard cardamoms are annually exported from Siam. We im- 

 ported about 300 tons in 1849. The price ranges from Is. (3d. to 

 3s. the pound. The estimated value of the cardamoms and 

 pepper shipped from Ceylon in the past few years was as fol- 

 lows : 1846, 208 ; 1847, 246 ; 1848, 205 ; 1849, 454 ; 

 1850, 960 ; 1851, 771 ; 1852, 590. The following are some 

 of the plants from which cardamoms are procured. 



1. Amomum Cardamomum, a Java plant, supplies the round 

 cardamoms. It has pale brown flowers. The fruit varies in size 

 from that of a black currant to a cherry. 



2. A. angustifolium (Pereira), a plant having red blossoms, fur- 

 nishes the large Madagascar cardamoms, and also supplies some of 

 the seeds called " Grains of Paradise," which are, however, larger 

 than those imported under that name. 



This species is found in Abyssinia, according to my friend Mr. 

 Chas. Johnston, author of " Travels in Abyssinia," who favored me 

 with some specimens. The seeds are pale olive brown, devoid of 

 the fiery peppery taste of the grains of paradise. 



3. A. maximum, the great winged amomum, produces the Java 

 cardamoms of the London market, and is also grown extensively 

 in Ceylon, the Malay islands, Nepaul, Sumatra, and other islands 

 of the Eastern Archipelago. There were exported from Ceylon 

 in 1842, 5,364 Ibs. ; in 1843, 9,632 Ibs. ; 1844, 7,280 Ibs. ; and in 

 1845, 11, 812 Ibs. The pods are large and long, and dark colored, 

 approaching to black, the taste nauseous and disagreeable, not the 

 least resembling that of the Malabar cardamoms. It is propagated 

 by cuttings of the rhizoma. The plants yield in three years, and 

 afterwards give an annual crop. They are not used here, but 

 gent to the continent. 



4. Alpinia Cardamomwn. This is the source of the clustered 



2 B 2 



