NATURAL HISTORY. 
26a 
There are nine or ten forts of cinnamon ; 
the bell grows in the greateft plenty, and is 
the peculiar produce of that ifland. 'ihe 
natives call it raffe corronde, i. e. ^ lharp, 
fweet cinnamon. The Dutch l.a(t-Tndia com- 
pany export it annually, under the flriftell 
orders of no other cinnamon being mixed 
with it. Every fort of cinnamon-tree mull; 
grow a certain number of years before it is 
Gripped of the bark. '1 hofe growing in 
vallies, of a white fandy foil, will ripen in 
five years , while others, found in a wet, 
flimy' foil, will be at lead feven or eight 
years before they can be dripped ; and Inch 
as grow in the fhade of larger trees, are 
not only later, but produce a bark not fo 
fweet or agreeable as the more early cinna- 
mon-trees. The bad cinnamon tades bitter, 
and fmells like camphire. The fweetnefs is 
entirely owing to a thin membrane, which 
adheres to the infide of the bark. The fla- 
vour diffufes itfelf through the whole fub- 
dance, while the cinnamon is drying in the 
fun. ihe fragrancy of the fmell, and the 
fweetnefs of the fade, have cauled this 
fpice to be coveted by 'all nations. The 
bark may remain on fome trees, 14, 15, or 
16 years, without fulFering any material di- 
minution in its qualities : but after this peri- 
od, the tade and imell decreafe, and ap- 
proach to thofe of camphire. The cinna- 
mon dripped from trees that are too aged, 
may be knowTi by its being thick, and con- 
'I • fequently 
