THE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 
33g 
but it is not of so deep a green. It has three fibres run- 
ning 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 to affirm that the cinnamon may be smelt far at sea 
off the island. This assertion is, in fact, a mere fiction, as 
even in passing through the woods I never could perceive 
any scent from the tree, except by pulling off some of the 
leaves or branches. The flower has even less scent than the 
leaves or a bit of twig. 
The cinnamon tree produces a species of fruit resembling an 
acorn, but not so large, which gets ripe about the latter end of 
autumn, and is gathered by the natives for the purpose of ex- 
tracting oil from it. The process they employ is to bruise the 
fruit, boil it, and skim off the oil : this they use for their hair 
and body on great occasions, and also for burning in their lamps. 
When mixed with cocoa-nut oil, it gives extremely good 
light. The Kings of Candy use it for this purpose, and for- 
merly commanded their subjects to bring them a certain 
quantity as a yearly tribute. When any ambassadors are sent 
to these princes, they always burn this oil during the time 
of audience. 
When the tree gets old and decayed, and most of the 
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