THE ISLAND OP CEYLON. 
SI ‘2 
CHAPTER XIV. 
Vegetables of Ceylon. 
Ceylon is particularly prolific in plants. Almost all 
those fruits which are peculiar to India and the countries 
within the tropical climates, are here found in great abun- 
dance and of a superior quality. Except in one or two 
species, the mangoes of Massegon, and the mandarine 
orange of China, which has within these last few years 
been raised at Bombay, this island maintains an undeni- 
able superiority over all our settlements on the continent 
of India. The climate is remarkably adapted to promote 
vegetation, and there are few parts where some species of 
fruit or other does not grow in luxuriance. Most of those 
fruits, which are natives of the island grow spontaneously 
in the woods without any culture or care in the rearing ; and 
the only labour required from the peasants is merely to pluck 
and bring them to market, where they are of course sold 
at a very low price. 
Among the fruits which grow spontaneously in the woods 
of Ceylon, are found most of those which constitute the 
most delicious desserts of our European tables : such as 
pine-apples, oranges, pomegranates, citrons, limes, melons, 
pumpkins, water-melons, squashes, figs, almonds, mulberries, 
bilberries, &c. all of which are too well known to require 
any particular description. 
