374 JOURNAL R. A. S. (CEYLON). [Vol. III. 



produces " Sweet Cinnamon," (pent kurundu, Sin.), contra- 

 distinguished from "Cassia," (nika kurundu, Sin.)* If 

 this be so, and I may regard it as a well ascertained fact in 

 natural history, that " each tract of country in the world has 

 had its own peculiar creation," the inference that Cinnamon 

 had its origin in Ceyion, is, I conceive, very probable.! It 

 is doubtless from this cause that this spice is so regarded 

 by several writers — that poets have sung of " spicy breezes" 

 in connection with " Ceylon's Isle ;" and that the Island itself 

 is termed " The Cinnamon Isle" 



Its claims to this designation seems to derive great support 

 from a Sanskrit "Catalogue of Botanical names," called the 

 Sarasivatt Nighanduva, a production of very remote anti- 

 quity, in which, among other designations, Sainhalan occurs 

 as a name for Cinnamon. i I find from Wilson's "Sanskrit 

 Dictionary," that this name (in a modified form, Sinhald) is 

 given to Cinnamon even in India — a fact which removes all 

 doubt as to the genuineness of the application, and the origin 

 of the article. 



Now, when we bear in mind that nearly all names 



although it is still a very inferior substitute ; it is much weaker in flavour 

 and lacks that fine aroma which is the leading feature in the quality 

 of Ceylon Cinnamon. It is besides very inferior in the quilling." — Report 

 of Messrs. Kilby and Co., Brokers, London, October, 1843. 



* Baldreus, in his account of Ceylon, describes Cassia as the third sort 

 of Cinnamon, called by the Portuguese Canel de mattu, or 'wild Cinna- 

 mon,' which grows likewise on the Coast of Malabar, bnt is in no esteem. 

 — Ancient Travels, p. 824. 



t Speaking of ' centres of creation,' Dr. Gardner says, (see Lee's 

 Translation of Kebeiro's Ceylon) that " till the natural productions of 

 different parts of the surface of the globe came to be investigated with 

 the attention and accuracy which are peculiar to the present age, 

 naturalists rested satisfied with the vague idea that all animals and 

 vegetables had originally radiated from a common centre, and that in 

 the same parallels of latitude the same species would be found. This we 

 now know not to be the case ; and it can be as safely asserted that 

 every large tract of country has had its own peculiar creation of both 

 plants and animals, as that two and two make four, the exceptions 

 to this general rule being accounted for by disseminating causes now 

 in operation." — p. 211. 



X It also occurs in another botanical work called the SiddJmwausadha, 

 Nighandmva. 



