VANILLA. 109 



rounder than the seeds of the true cardamom : they are of 

 a glossy dark-brown colour, and a warm pungent taste, re- 

 sembling pepper, with a slight flavour of camphor. The 

 natives of Africa use this seed as a spice, and with them it 

 is in great esteem. With us it is used to give a fictitious 

 strength to spirits and beer, but principally the former, 

 being extensively used with capsicum and juniper-berries to 

 give a hot strong flavour to London gin ; it is also used in 

 some veterinary medicines. The former use is illegal, but 

 it nevertheless prevails to a great extent. The quantity im- 

 ported is about 18 tons annually. 



Vanilla. — The seed-pods of Vanilla aromatica. (Nat. 

 Ord. Orchidacece.) 



The Vanilla, or Vanile, as it is sometimes called, is in 

 the form of long thin pods, from nine to twelve inches in 

 length, but not exceeding a quarter of an inch in thickness, 

 filled throughout their entire length with very minute black 

 oily seeds, having the appearance of a black paste ; the out- 

 side of the pod is slightly wrinkled in longitudinal furrows, 

 and is of a shining dark -brown colour; altogether it resembles 

 a thin brown stick rather than the seed-vessel of a plant. 

 Both the flavour and smell of vanilla is remarkably delicate 

 and agreeable, and is peculiar to the Orchideous plants. 



