ON THE CEYLON CARDAMOM. 
25 
Ceylon Cardamoms is quoted at Is. Od. to Is. 2d. per pound 
in bond, while that of the Malabar Cardamoms is quoted 
at from Is. 8d. to 2s. 6d. per pound. Mastius* states, that 
100 parts of the Ceylon Cardamoms consist of 71 parts of 
seeds, and 29 parts of periearpial coats. By distillation the 
seeds yield an aromatic oil. 
Bertolaccif observes, that " the cardamom of Ceylon, 
although held in estimation as an article of trade, is account- 
ed greatly inferior to that which grows on the coast of 
Malabar, and is sold, I believe, at only one-third of the price 
the former. That which the island exports is collected 
chiefly in the Candian territory. I am informed that pep- 
per, coffee, and cardamoms were not indigenous plants of 
Ceylon, but have been introduced by the Dutch." But it 
is probable that the latter part of this statement applies to 
the Malabar Cardamom only, which, according to Moon, is 
called by the Singhalese Rata-ensal, that is Foreign Car- 
damom — while the Ceylon Cardamom is simply called En- 
sal, that is, Cardamom. 
The quantity of Cardamoms exported from Ceylon from 
the year 1806 to 1813 inclusive, is, according to Bertolacci 
as follows. 
Candies. 
In 1806 
4i 
1807 
15 
1S08 
7 
1809 
M 
1810 
18 
1811 
n 
1812 
71 
1813 
lOf 
Average op eight years about 9§ per annum. 
* Grundriss der Pharmakognosie des Pflanzenreiches, p. 254. Erlan- 
gen, 1832. 
f View of the Agricultural, Commercial, and Financial Interests of 
Ceylon, p. 157. London, 1817. 
vol. ix. — no. i. 3 
