generally so in Ceylon), and it will
continue wet weather till the end of August, very often till
September and October, and you have the benefit of four or five
months rain.
The cinnamon seeds are to be gathered when they are fully ripe, they
must be heaped up in a shady place, to have the outside red pulp
rotted, when it turns quite black, then have the seeds trampled or
otherwise freed from the decomposed pulp, without injuring the
seeds, and well washed in water (just as is done to cherry coffee,
before they are made into parchment in the whole shell). Finally,
have the seeds[48] well dried in the air without exposing them to
the sun, and then put them in on the ground prepared for their
reception. In washing the seeds, those that float on the surface
should be rejected.
There are five different sorts of cinnamon, viz.:--
1st is called Panny Meers Carundoo.
2nd Tittha " "
3rd Kahatte " "
4th Wallee " "
5th Savell " "
Of these, the first kind is the best of all, the 2nd and 3rd,
although inferior, are peeled likewise, the 4th and 5th are
spurious.
The distinction in the cinnamon can be known both by taste, the
shape of the leaves on the tree, and an experienced "Challya" man
will judge the cinnamon by first sight.
The quality of the bark depends upon its situation in the branch,
that peeled from the middle of the bush or branch being the _most
superior_, and classed as 1st sort, that taken from the upper end is
the 2nd quality, while the bark removed from the base of the branch,
or the thickest end, is the inferior, and called the 3rd sort.
From the cinnamon bark refused in the sorting store of all kinds, in
separating the first, second and third qualities and in making bales
for exportation, the refuse is collected, and by a chemical process
cinnamon oil is extracted, which sells very high, with an export
duty of 3s. or l1/2 rupees on each ounce, exclusive of the British
duties payable in England for importation, which is at present one
shilling and three pence per pound.[49] Of the cinnamon roots
camphor is made, which sells well both in Ceylon and other parts of
the world.
Cinnamon, as a medicine, is a powerful stimulant, but it is not much
used alone. It is generally united with othe
|