342 Particular Account of the Cinnamon. 
to such desperation, that lie resolved to secure himself against 
their future 'attacks, by leaving nothing in his dominions which 
could excite their covetousness. With this view he has, since 
the last treaty he was forced to make with them, employed 
every means to prevent the growth and propagation of the cin- 
namon tree. 
As this spice constitutes the wealth of Ceylon, great pains 
are taken to ascertain its quality, and to propagate the 
choicest kinds. The prime sort, and that which grows in the 
gardens around Columbo, is procured from the laiirus cinnamo- 
miini\ This is a tree of a small size, from four to ten feet 
in height: the trunk is slender, and like several of our shrubs; 
a number of branches and twigs shoot out from it on every side. 
The wood is soft, light, and porous, in appearance much re- 
sembling that of our osier ; and when barked it is chiefly fit 
or fuel, to which use it is commonly converted. It is, how- 
ever, sometimes sawed into planks, and manufactured into cad- 
dies and other pieces of furniture ; but its scent does not se- 
cure it from the attacks of the worms. A vast number of roots 
and fibres run out from the root of the tree, and shooting up 
into slender twigs, form a bush around it. 
The leaf a good deal resembles that of the laurel in shape, 
but it is not of so deep a green. It has three fibres running 
lengthwise, but no cross or intersecting fibres, like most other 
leaves. At its first appearance the leaf is of a scarlet red; but 
after some time it changes gradually to a green. When chewed, 
it has the hot taste and smell of cloves. 
The blossom is white, and when in full blow seems to cover 
the woods. It is probably from the great distance at which 
an object of this colour is seen, that voyagers have been led 
