1847.] Periplus of the Erythrean Sea, fye. 39 



a condiment in all parts of India. It is indigenous in Sylhet, Assam, 

 Rungpore, and in the valleys along tlie base of the mountain range, as 

 far as Mussouri. The dry branches and leaves are brought annually in 

 large quantities from the former place, and sold at a fair which is held 

 in Vicramapura, close to the supposed site of the Gangetic mart of the 

 Sequel. Tuj, however, is a name that is also given in the eastern part 

 of Bengal, to the bark of a variety of Cinnamomum Zeyianicum, or 

 Cassia lignea, which abounds in the valleys of Cachar, Jyntea, and 

 Assam. Mr. Landers describes Cassia lignea, as indigenous and growing 

 luxuriantly, along the second range of the Naga hills in Assam, as plen- 

 tiful at Tublong, Chackting, and Nokangies, and as an article that 

 is brought to the plains by the Abor tribes of Yung-yack, Tangsee, and 

 Tamlow.* It is prepared and sold by the Khassias in the Cherra Poonjee 

 bazar, whence it is exported to Sylhet, Dacca, and other marts in the 

 eastern part of Bengal. Moghul merchants repair to the former place 

 for the express purpose of purchasing cinnamon. As Tuj, therefore, is 

 an appellation that is applied to Cinnamomum albinorum, and Cassia 

 lignea, so Patruj, which is the name of the bark of the former, may, in 

 like manner, have been used in ancient times, to designate the quills of 

 the bark of the latter tree. It is probable, therefore, that the words, 



i^ividaavTes KaXa/xovS robs Xeyo/xevovs irerpovs, refer to the bark of C. Zeyla- 



nicum or Cassia lignea ; and therefore, instead of signifying " they 

 pick out the haulm which is called Petros" as they are translated by 

 Dr. Vincent, they should be rendered they peel the pipes or quills [or 

 the baric] called Petros ; — tca\dfiovs having reference to the tubular or 

 hollow cylindrical form, which the bark of cinnamon assumes in drying, 

 and nerpovs being a corruption of Patraj or Putruj, the name of the bark 

 of Cinnamomum albinorum, and no doubt, formerly also that of Cassia 

 lignea. The account, which is given in the Sequel regarding the mode 

 of preparing Petros and Malabathrum, seems to imply that the Sesatse 

 brought the green branches of the Cinnamomum albinorum, and Cassia 

 lignea trees, from the forests in the interior of their country, to the 

 marts on the frontier, and sold them there to the Thinse or Assamese, 

 who peeled the bark called Petros. This, probably, was done after the 

 ripening of the fruit, which is considered the best season for peeling the 

 bark of the Cinnamon or Cassia tree : and it is, apparently, to this 



* Journal of the Agricultural and Horticultural Society of India, Vol. II. No. X. 



