CINNAMON GARDENS. 
131 
deliver, at certain prices, a given quantity of cinnamon 
properly peeled and ready for exportation. 
This system remained unchanged so long as I^ortn^al 
was master of the comiitrj, but the forests in which the 
spice was found being exposed to constant incursions from 
the Kandyans, the Dutch were compelled to form enclosed 
plantations of their own within range of their fortresses. 
The native chieftains, fearful of losing tlie profits derived 
from the labour of the Clialias, who were attached as serfs 
to their domainsj and whose work they let out to the Dutch, 
were at first extremely opposed to this innovation , and 
endeavoured to persuade 
the Hollanders that the 
cinnamon would degene- 
rate as soon as it was 
artiticially planted. The 
withering of many of the 
yoimg trees seemed to 
j ustily the assertion, but 
on a closer examination 
it was found that boiling 
water had been poured 
upon the roots. A law 
was now passed declaring 
the wilful injury of a cinnamon plant a crime punishable 
with death, and by this severity the project was saved* 
The extent of the trade during the time of the Dutch 
may be inferred from the fact, that the five principal 
cinnamon-gardens around Nejomho, Colombo, Earberyn, 
Galle, and Maduro were each from fifteen to twenty miles 
in circumference. Although they were only first planted 
in the year 1770, yet befoi-e 1796, when Colombo was taken 
by the English, their annual produce amounted to more 
than 40O3OOO lbs. of cinnamon^ as much as the demands 
of the market required. 
The profits must have lieen enormous, f jr cinnamon was 
then at least ten times dearer than at present, the trade 
