I 
THE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 341 
a gummy substance containing camphor distills of itself 
from the wound. The cabatte curundu is an astringent 
species of cinnamon, harsh to the taste, with rather smaller* 
leaves than the former sorts. These four are the only 
species of cinnamon-tree which produces this spice of a 
good quality, or indeed which are ever allowed to be bark- 
ed by the servants of government. There are some 
other varieties which are easily distinguishable. The saevel 
curundu has its bark of a soft, fibrous texture, neither so 
compact nor so firm as those already mentioned, but easily 
bending without breaking; when chewed it leaves a slimy 
mucus in the mouth. The dawul curundu , or flat cinna- 
mon, receives its name from the bark, on being dried, not 
rolling itself together, but remaining flat. The nica curundu 
is distinguished by its long narrow leaves. These are the 
only species which even from appearance run any risk of 
being confounded with the proper cinnamon. 
Till this island was possessed by the Dutch, cinnamon- 
grew entirely in the wild state ; it was even believed by 
Europeans as well as natives that it was in this state alone it 
was to be found in perfection, and that upon being planted, 
it never failed to degenerate. The propagation of the tree Jin 
the wild state is attributed to the birds, who swallow the ber- 
ries, but the kernels not dissolving in their stomachs are 
thrown out, and thus dispersed up and down wherever the 
birds chance to fly. During the course of the last century, 
however, experience has shewn that the cultivated cinnamon. 
q 
