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



unable to ascertain any mention of it in the Sinhalese books 

 except our Dictionaries and the Poets." (A.D. 1410 — 1815.) 



You will have doubtless 1 read in modern Sinhalese history, 

 that upon the capture of the late Kandyan King, the lamp in 

 his palace was found to contain Cinnamon oil : but this was 

 probably a luxury, the use of which was borrowed from 

 the Dutch, f 



Before concluding these observations, I must not omit to 

 remark that in defining " Cinnamon tree," Prof. Monier 

 Williams in his Dictionary gives the following Sanskrit 

 sentence, which whether quoted from any book of authority, 

 or not, supports the belief generally entertained, that the 

 plant is indigenous to Ceylon — Purvokta tikta, balkala visisJi- 

 tah Sinhala-diipa void kshudra vriksliccK "The aforenamed 

 (is) a small tree (plant) having pungent bark, and grown in 

 the island of Sinhcda." 



In the following list I have given the significations of 

 the several 



Sanskrit Names for Cinnamon and Cassia. 



1. Tvatc/i, 'skin,' 'bark,' 'rind,' 'peel.' 



2. Vardnga, * elegant' or ' superior body.' 



3. Brunga, 'a golden vase.' 



4. Ghocha, 'bark,' 'rind,' 'skin.'j 



pp. 124, 182,) — probably referring amongst others to Cinnamon, the great 

 lragrance of wiiose bark was certainly known to the natives, from at 

 least the names given to it ( vide the list of names at the end.) 1 have 

 also carefully examined the text of the Mahdwansa, but have round the 

 words too large to enable me to express a decided opinion on the 

 subject. 



®<£^(3&ie;£>C55(3, &V^&(^(&do^&Szr$g j Q>2S) Q Kaoyiasekhamya. 



f But, Baldams says, that in the beginning of the siege of Colombo 

 by the JJutcli, their "General received a letter, writ with his Majesty's 

 own hand," and that " it was curiously perfumed with all sorts of 

 spices." — Ancient Travels, p. 720. 



J These four and the 6th and the 18th, are given in the Amarakusha ; 

 and it is remarkable that they are all rendered ' tvoody Cassia ' by Mr. 

 Colebrooke. 



