WILD CINNAMON. 117 
namon, to which it has considerable resemblance, al- 
though, in its qualities, it is much weaker, and although 
it is immediately distinguishable by its slimy taste. 
The virtues of cinnamon are not confined to the bark. 
The leaves, the fruit, and the root all yield oil of con- 
siderable value. That from the fruit is highly fragrant, 
of thick consistence, and, in Ceylon, was formerly made 
into candles for the exclusive use of the king. 
128. V/JLD CINNAMON, or CASSIA, is the bark of a 
tree of the bay tribe (Laurus cassia), which grows in the East 
Indies and China, and is distinguished by having spear-shaped 
leaves, each with three nerves. 
This bark was well known to the ancients, and highly 
esteemed by them : but, since the use of cinnamon has 
been generally adopted, the cassia bark has fallen into 
disrepute on account of its inferiority. It is thicker 
and more coarse than cinnamon, of weaker quality, 
and abounds more with a viscid mucilaginous matter. 
For many purposes, however, cassia, as being much less 
expensive, is substituted for cinnamon, but more par- 
ticularly for the preparation of what is called oil of cin- 
namon : and nearly the whole of what is at present sold 
under the name either of simple or spirituous cinnamon 
water is prepared from cassia. 
The buds, as well as the bark, of this tree are used in 
culinary preparations, and for several other purposes. 
They are chiefly imported from China. 
129. CAMPHOR is a while resinous production of pecu- 
liar and powerful smell, which is extracted from two or three 
kinds of trees of the bay tribe that grow in the islands of the, 
East Indies, and in China. 
Of these the principal is Laurus camphora (Fig. 41). 
It is of considerable height, much branched, and has spear- 
shaped leaves, with nerves, of pale yellowish green colour 
on the upper side, and bluish green beneath. Thejlowers are 
small and white, and stand on stalks which issue from the junc- 
tion of the leaves and branches. 
Camphor is found in every part of the trees ; in the 
