346 
THE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 
tation has been sent off to Europe, the very refuse of 
this valuable spice is capable of being converted to use. 
The fragments and small pieces which happen to be broken 
off in packing up the bales are collected, and put into large 
tubs, about a hundred weight into each, with just as much 
water as is sufficient to cover them completely. This mass 
is left for six or seven days to macerate, and is afterwards 
poured by little and little into a copper alembic, to which a 
slow fire is applied. The water which comes over, called 
aqua cinnamoni , is received in glass vessels of a peculiar con- 
struction; it is nearly of the colour of milk, and the oil 
floats at the top of the glass recipient. The process is 
slowly and cautiously conducted ; one tub being usually 
distilled off in twenty-four hours. Two commissaries, (who 
were members of the council of justice in the time of the 
Dutch,) are appointed to superintend the whole of tliis pro- 
cess ; and one of them is always required to be present to 
prevent the apothecary, who conducts the distillation, from 
embezzling any of the oil. After remaining for some time 
in the recipient, the oil is carefully skimmed off under the 
eye of the commissaries, and put into large bottles, which 
are sealed with the government seal, and brought to the 
governor, by whom they are placed in a chest secured in the 
same manner. The reason of all these precautions is the 
great scarcity and value of this oil. It is only made at the 
company's laboratory at Columbo ; and the quantity is much 
less than can be procured from an equal weight of any other 
