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JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYXON). [VOL. XIX. 



A 18. 



The Travels of Ludovico di Varthema. 1 

 [1505.] 



The said city [Cioromandel 2 ] is situated opposite to 



the island of Zeilon, when you have passed the Cape of Cumerin 



We passed a gulf of twelve or fifteen leagues where we had 



incurred great peril because there are many shoals and rocks there ; 

 however, we arrived at an island called Zailon, 3 which is about 

 1 ,000 miles in circumference, according to the report of the inhabi- 

 tants thereof. 



The Chapter concerning Zailani, where Jewels are 

 produced . 



In this island of Zailon are four kings, 4 all pagans. I do not 

 describe to you all the kings of the said island, because these kings 

 being in fierce war with each other, 5 we could not remain there 

 long, neither could we see or hear the things thereof ; however, 

 having remained there some few days, we saw that which you shall 

 hear. And first, an immense quantity of elephants which are 

 produced there. We also saw rubies found there, at a distance of 

 two miles from the sea shore, where there is an extremely large 

 and very long mountain, at the foot of which the said rubies are 

 found. 6 And when a merchant wishes to find these jewels, he 

 is obliged first to speak to the king and to purchase a brazo of the 

 said land in every direction (which brazo is called a molan 1 ), 

 and to purchase it for five ducats. And then when he digs the 

 said land, a man always remains there on the part of the king. 

 And if any jewel be found which exceeds ten carats , the king claims 

 it for himself, and leaves all the rest free. 8 There is also pro- 

 duced near to the said mountain, where there is a very large river, a 

 great quantity of garnets , sapphires , j acinths , and topazes . In this 

 island there grow the best fruits I have ever seen, and especially 

 certain artichokes (carzofoli) 9 better than ours. Sweet oranges 

 {melangoli), the best, I believe, in the world, and many other 

 fruits like those of Calicut, but much superior. 



The Chapter concerning the Tree of the Cannella. 



The tree of the cannella is the same as the laurel, especially the 

 leaves ; and it produces some berries like the laurel, but they are 

 smaller and more white. The said cannella, or cinnamon, is 

 the bark of the said tree in this wise : Every three years they cut 

 the branches of the said tree, and then take off the bark of them ; 

 but they do not cut the stem on any account. There are great 

 numbers of these trees. When they collect that cinnamon it has 

 not the excellence which it possesses a month afterwards. A 

 Moorish merchant told me that at the top of that very large 

 mountain there is a cavern to which the men of that country go 

 once in the year to pray, because, as they say, Adam was up there 

 praying 10 and doing penance, and that the impressions of his 



