( *04 ) 
And here it may be thought a fit Subjed of Enquiry, 
how it comes to pafs, that • confidering what vaft 
Quantities of Cinnamon have been exported from this 
Ifland, and fold all over the World, by the Europeans 
as well as Natives, not only for thefe two hatred 
Years laft paft ; and fince the Way thither by the EaJ- 
Indies hath been found out by the Portiigueze^ but 
for feveral Centuries before (for it was difcovered and 
known long before) I fay, how, confidering this, it 
comes to pafs, that there are yet fuch Numbers of good 
Trees fit to be Bark’d, remaining in the Ifland and grow- 
ing there every Year ? Now in order to folve this Que- 
ftion, feveral Authors, who defcrib’d the Ifland of 
Ceylon^ committed a confiderable Miflake, when they 
aflure their Readers, that when the Bark hath been 
flrippM off the Tree, it grows again in four or five Years, 
and becomes fit to be ftripp'd a fecond Time. 1 can affure 
you, Sir, that this Affertion is entirely contrary to the 
Courfe of Nature and Obfervation: Nor do I believe, 
that there is any one Tree whatever in any Part of 
the World, which, if it was entirely flripp'd of its Bark, 
could fubfifl and grow any longer: That Part at leaf!:, 
where the Bark hath been taken off, will quickly grow 
dry^ and fo die away ; but the Root in the mean while 
remains entire and in good Condition ; and this (hews 
the Reafon why there is fuch a Number of Trees fit 
to be Bark’d every Year. For although the Cinnamon 
Trees, after the Bark hath been once taken off, is cut 
down to the very Root, as they do in Europe Oaks, 
Birch-Trees, Alders and Willows, yet the Root will 
quickly pufh forth new Shoots, which will ripen in a 
fhort Time, I mean in five, fix, feven or eight Years, 
fome fooner, feme later, and then yield their Quan- 
tity 
