152 



JOURNAL, E.A.S. (CEYLON). 



[Vol. X. 



which is first freed from its green rind or peel, is then 

 cinnamon. The roots yield, through distillation, a large 

 quantity of camphor and oil of camphor. The leaves yield 

 an oil that very closely resembles oil of cloves, with which a 

 little oil of cinnamon is mixed. The fruits, which resemble 

 a kind of berry, yield oil very like the oil of juniper. These 

 berries or fruits being taken out of the kettle after distillation, 

 and pressed, and thus deprived of the residue of water, 

 a substance like wax is obtained, from which candles are 

 made. 22 The chief fuel that we burnt in the kitchens in 

 Colombo was cinnamon wood. This is, in short, what I had 

 to say of the cinnamon tree. 



Meanwhile we had come to a broad marshy water, which 

 separates Cotton from the district of Colombo, for Cotton is a 

 small island. Here we stood and looked, and no one knew 

 how to get across. Some Cingalese, who stood near there, 

 said that there was no other way, but that we must go across 

 that marsh, and that then we must also cross a broad sheet of 

 water. We begged them to be of assistance to us. Having 

 got through the marsh, we came to a very broad and deep 

 sheet of water, where, as luck would have it, two hollow 

 trees, which they call tonjes, lay, which they tied together 

 with some greenery, and thus we went towards Cotton ; they 

 came back immediately to take us, as well as our slaves, and so 

 we came together to Cotton. The curiosities that were to be 

 seen there were of little interest : only the ruins of some 

 pillars of grey freestone, standing in a square ten to twelve 

 paces from each other, on which was carved some foliage, 

 which for heathen men was certainly wonderful. They said 

 that in former times the Portuguese had carried off the rest 

 for the building of their church in Colombo. 23 In Cotton 

 were some Mapper gardens, where surie and arak were sold. 

 We dined there, in the manner of the country, on a mat on 

 the earth, and sat thereto as tailors are accustomed to do with 

 us. After eating, we again crossed over, and came back 

 home once more. 



Moreover, the Ambassadors, or those who had brought the 



