136 
THE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 
CHAPTER XV. 
Cinnamon , the staple commodity of Ceylon. 
I Shall conclude my account of the vegetable productions 
of Ceylon with the most valuable and important article of 
tlie whole, the Cinnamon. The length of my residence at 
Columbo enabled me to observe with my own eyes the 
whole process of procuring and preparing it for exportation; 
and the importance of the subject induced me to employ 
much pains to acquire a complete knowledge of its growth, 
and the improvements of which this branch of commerce 
is capable. The subject has indeed been frequently attended 
to before: Dr. Thunberg in particular from his acquaint- 
ance with botany, and his being employed in proving the 
cinnamon, has been able to give the public much informa- 
tion concerning it ; and in order to render this account as 
complete as possible, I shall not scruple to avail myself 
occasionally of his assistance. 
The principal woods, or gardens, as we call them, where 
the Cinnamon is procured, lie in the neighbourhood of 
Columbo. They reach to within half a mile of the fort, 
and fill the wdiole surrounding prospect. The grand garden 
near the town is so extensive as to occupy a tract of country 
from ten to fifteen miles in length, and stretching along 
from the north-east to the south of the district. Nature 
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