SPICES OF THE TROPICS 267 



oil, which is obtained from the leaves as well as bark, is usually 

 quoted at 3s. to 3s. 9d. per Ib. The tree is propagated from seed, 

 and requires similar conditions of soil and climate as Cinnamon. 



Chillies, Red pepper, or Capsicums ; " Miris " or " Gasmiris " 

 S\ " Kochika " T. (Capsicums spp. Solanacea^). Small annual or 

 biennial, herbaceous, shrubby plants, cultivated throughout the 

 tropics for the sake of their pungent fruits, which are usually an 

 indispensable spice in the food of people in tropical countries, 

 more especially that of the Natives. The fruits are also used in 

 pickles and sauces, in the manufacture of "Cayenne pepper," and 

 in medicine. The three principal species, of which there are 

 many varieties, are Capsicum minimum (Bird pepper, or Guinea- 

 pepper), C. fnilcscens (Goat-, or Spur-pepper), C, grossttw (Bell- 

 capsicum, or Bull-nose pepper). The last named form is entirely 

 free from the acrid and burning pungency peculiar to the others, 

 and mav be eaten cooked as a vegetable or in salads. (See 

 Tropical vegetables). Chillies thrive best in loose humous soil, 

 which must be well-tilled, and will grow up to 3,000 feet or more 

 above sea-level. Seeds may be sown in beds or boxes, the seed- 

 lings being planted out in well prepared ground when three to 

 four inches high, at distances about two feet apart, or at the rate 

 of 10,800 plants to the acre. A crop is obtained in about eight 

 months from the time of planting, and the yield may be from 

 1,000lb. to 1,400 Ib. of dried chillies per acre. Chillies sell in 

 London at from 30s. to 45s. per cwt., the " Nepaul chillies" 

 usually fetching the highest price, these being sometimes sold for 

 -4 per cwt. The product is largely exported from Zanzibar, India, 

 Natal, West Indies, etc. 



Cinnamon; "Kurundu"S. ; " Kuruva " T. (Cinnamoiunm 

 zeylanicum. Lauraceae;. A moderate or large-sized tree, 40 to 60 

 feet high, with 3-5 nerved alternate leaves, native of the moist 

 low-country of Ceylon and South India. In cultivation, the tree 

 is grown as a bush so as to produce numerous long straight clean 

 shoots, which are cut periodically close to the ground in order to 

 obtain the bark. The bark is first rung by the peelers at dis- 

 tances of about \\ feet apart, then slit longitudinally and detached ; 

 it is piled into heaps to undergo a slight fermentation, a process 

 which facilitates the next operation of removing the cuticle, 

 which is done by scraping with a curved knife. The bark then 

 dries and contracts into quills, the smaller of which are placed 

 inside the larger, forming smooth "canes" about 3 feet long 



