484 



5PICES AND rEAOEA^fT WOODS, 



vanilla of the FreDch market ; tlie vanilla pamprona or lova of 

 the Spaniards. Its length is from five to six inches, its breadth 

 from one-half to three-fourths of an inch. It is brown, soft^ 

 viscid, almost always open, of a strong smell, but less agreeable 

 than the leq^. It is sometimes a little spoiled by an incipient fer= 

 mentation. It is cured with sugar, and enclosed in tin plate 

 boxes, which contain from 20 to 60 pods *. 



The average annual import of vanilla into Havre, in the five 

 years ending 1841, was about 16 boxes ; in 1842 it was 30 packages. 



ToiiTQUin- Beans. — The seeds of the Tongo tree {Dipteria^ 

 odorata), a native of Gruiana, are the well-known tonquin beans 

 used to give a pleasant flavor to snuff. 



TUEMEEIG, 



This article of commerce is furnished by the branches of the 

 rhizome or root-stock of the Curcuma longa, and C. rotunda^ plants 

 which are natives of Eastern Asia, but have been grown in England 

 and the West Indies. They thrive well in a rich light soil, and 

 are readily increased by offsets from the roots. 



In the East Indies, where it is known as Huldee, turmeric is 

 much employed in dyeing yellow, principally silks, but the color 

 is very fugitive. It is also used medicinally as an aromatic car- 

 minative, and as a condiment ; it enters into the composition of 

 curry sauce or powder, and many other articles of Indian cookery. 

 It is cordial and stomachic, and considered by the native doctors 

 of India an excellent application in powder for cleansing foul ulcers. 



It is grown in, and exported chiefly from, Bengal and Malabar, 

 Madras, Ja^a, and China. The turmeric of Java is in high esti- 

 mation in the European markets, ranking next to that of China^ 

 and being much superior to that of Bengal. The seeds of 

 Aneihwn Sowa, from their carminative properties, form an in- 

 gredient in curry powder. 



The price of turmeric in London is from 12s, to 20s. per cwt., 

 according to quality. The entries for home consumption are about 

 4,000 to 5,000 cwts, annually. It is better shipped in casks or 

 cases than in bags. 



A kind of arrowroot is prepared from C. angustifolia, another 

 species of this tribe of plants. 



AmarantJius gangiticus, and another species, are much culti- 

 vated by the Hindoos for their stews and curries. 



The quantity and value of the curry stuff" imported into Ceylon, 

 chiefly from India, has been in the last few years as foUows : — 



Quantity. 



Years. CTvts. packages. Value. 



1847 .... .... — .... 6,866 



1848 .... — 9,981 



1849 26,347 109 .... 9,664 



1850 24,396 300 7,267 



1851 32,550 .... — 9,446 



1852 — - — 9,039 



* Ure's Dictionary of Arts and Manufactures. 



