No. 11,-1858-9.] SCRIPTURE BOTANY OF CEYLON. 317 



Besides the real Cinnamon here undoubtedly referred to, 

 (the Cinnamomum Zeylanicum), we have four other species 

 indigenous to the Island, one of which, lately discovered 

 by the present Director of the Botanic Gardens, has the 

 perfume of the Lemon Grass so well known in Ceylon. The 

 plant discovered by Mr. Thwaites, bears a name signifying 

 that it has this resemblance. 



The references in the Bible to this famous spice have 

 called forth the powers of investigation of several authors, 

 who have thrown considerable light on the subject and on 

 the countries supposed to have produced the Cinnamon of 

 the Bible. 



I need not enter into details respecting the Cinnamon 

 plant, for which our Island is renowned above all other 

 places on the face of the earth. 



I cannot say much about "the Spicy breezes," perceived 

 by voyagers off the coast and described by Poets, but there is 

 no doubt that after a shower of rain the air in the Cin- 

 namon Gardens is perfumed with the pleasant odour of 

 various flowers around. The odour of the Cinnamon flower 

 is neither powerful nor peculiar. 



I had the pleasure, in 1858, of examining in the British 

 Museum specimens of the Cinnamon plant collected by Paul 

 Hermann in this Island about 200 years ago. and which 

 formed the origin of the Lauriis Cinnamomum and L. Cassia 

 of Linnmus, the latter of which did not differ from the former 

 excepting by the narrowness of its leaves, and they seemed 

 to have been made so by the free use of a pair of scissors. 



The Cassia of commerce is the produce of several species 

 of Cinnamon, as well as of the real Cinnamon tree, the 

 inferior kinds from Ceylon having been sold as Cassia. 



Milton makes several allusions to Cassia — 



<< an( l now i s come 



Into the blissful field through groves of myrrh 

 And floweiy odours, cassia, nard and balm." 



"Paradise Lost" Book o. 



K 



