DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2375#0165
MYSORE, CANARA, AND MALABAR,
161
it is procurable farther inland. The landlords (Malugaras) pretend, CHAPTER
that all the timber trees are their property, but that none of them ^J^J^,
are saleable. Feb. 25.
The wild nutmeg and Cassia are very common. As the nutmegs Nutmeg.
ripen, the monkies always eat up the outer rind, and mace; so that
I could not procure one in a perfect state. They are collected
from the ground, after having been peeled by the monkies, and are
sold by some poor people to the shopkeepers ; but they have little
flavour; and the demand for them is very small. Although they
are, doubtless, of a distinct species from the nutmeg of Amboyna,
it is probable, that by proper cultivation and manure their quality
might be greatly improved ; and that, in the situations where they
now grow spontaneously, they might be reared as the supporters
of the pepper vine; which would produce copiously, and of an ex-
cellent quality, were the same pains bestowed on it here as is done in
the gardens above the Ghats, where b}^ far the best pepper grows.
The Cassia-belongs to government, and is in general given in LaurusCas-
lease; but at present no renter can be procured. Its quality also
might, no doubt, be greatly improved; and by cutting the shoots,
when of a proper size, and cleaning and rolling up the bark neatly,,
it might be made equal to the Cassia of China.
On my return from the pepper hills to Mirzee, I passed a very strata.
fine plantation of Betel-nut palms, belonging to four Brdhmans, and
containing many thousand trees. It was placed on the two steep
sides of a very narrow valley, well supplied Avith water from springs.
Here I observed the first regular strata since leaving Pali-ghat.
They consisted of very soft pot-stone, probably impregnated with
hornblende slate, as they seem to be a continuation of the quarries
of slaty sienite, from which the temples at Batuculla have been
supplied with stone. I have already noticed the affinity that
prevails between the hornblende and pot-stone rocks in the domi-
nions of Mysore. The strata at this garden are vertical, and run
nearly north and south.
Vol. III. Y
161
it is procurable farther inland. The landlords (Malugaras) pretend, CHAPTER
that all the timber trees are their property, but that none of them ^J^J^,
are saleable. Feb. 25.
The wild nutmeg and Cassia are very common. As the nutmegs Nutmeg.
ripen, the monkies always eat up the outer rind, and mace; so that
I could not procure one in a perfect state. They are collected
from the ground, after having been peeled by the monkies, and are
sold by some poor people to the shopkeepers ; but they have little
flavour; and the demand for them is very small. Although they
are, doubtless, of a distinct species from the nutmeg of Amboyna,
it is probable, that by proper cultivation and manure their quality
might be greatly improved ; and that, in the situations where they
now grow spontaneously, they might be reared as the supporters
of the pepper vine; which would produce copiously, and of an ex-
cellent quality, were the same pains bestowed on it here as is done in
the gardens above the Ghats, where b}^ far the best pepper grows.
The Cassia-belongs to government, and is in general given in LaurusCas-
lease; but at present no renter can be procured. Its quality also
might, no doubt, be greatly improved; and by cutting the shoots,
when of a proper size, and cleaning and rolling up the bark neatly,,
it might be made equal to the Cassia of China.
On my return from the pepper hills to Mirzee, I passed a very strata.
fine plantation of Betel-nut palms, belonging to four Brdhmans, and
containing many thousand trees. It was placed on the two steep
sides of a very narrow valley, well supplied Avith water from springs.
Here I observed the first regular strata since leaving Pali-ghat.
They consisted of very soft pot-stone, probably impregnated with
hornblende slate, as they seem to be a continuation of the quarries
of slaty sienite, from which the temples at Batuculla have been
supplied with stone. I have already noticed the affinity that
prevails between the hornblende and pot-stone rocks in the domi-
nions of Mysore. The strata at this garden are vertical, and run
nearly north and south.
Vol. III. Y