The specimens, which I now produce, of the Canella or bark of the Cinnamon of Sumatra, I procured in the year 1755. from Mr. Tho. Combes, a gentleman then in the service of the East India Company in Sumatra, by means of a friend.
I was then attempting to form a society for the carrying on a General Natural History, to try proper experiments, and to employ proper painters and engravers suitable to the importance of the subject; and therefore attempted to establish a correspondence in those parts, whose productions are as yet little known to the public.
I mention this design, because it would not be possible else to explain what Mr. Combes means by the word Society, which he so often mentions in his letter; of which I shall produce an extract, so far as it relates to the present inquiry.
It seemed to me very improbable (as the same plants are generally found in the same latitude and soil), that the spices now in the possession of the Dutch should grow only in that small tract of land, which is in their possession. And I had many credible informations, that, whatever they may pretend to the contrary, this is only a pretence.
I therefore desired to obtain the best information of the nature and culture of the plants producing spices, as well as of many other things, which are foreign from this inquiry.
I desired to know, how the spices were dried and cured; and that different specimens might be sent me of the plants, their seed, flower, leaf, and bark, and properly cured and prepared.
This produced the answer I lay before you herewith, together with the specimens now produced.
You see hereby, that the Dutch dry their Cinnamon in sand; probably to take away that viscosity, which is complained of in the Cassia.
And you will observe also, that the specimen produced dried and cured is also as free from any viscosity, as the Cinnamon of Ceylon: That it agrees also with the Cinnamon in every other quality, and in colour; and that none of the distinctions mentioned by Mr. Ray can be found herein; but that they may arise from the part of the tree, from whence the bark was taken; the inner bark of the large wood being red, as you see by the other specimen produced. And the common Cassia taken from the larger branches, and not cured, has the viscosity complained of in some degree, tho’ much less than it had four years since, when I received it.
Mr. Ray says, that one is weaker in taste, as he supposes, than the other. That may be so from its manner of drying, or keeping of it. Dried in large quantities, and by a stronger heat, it will probably be stronger, than if it is dried in a lesser quantity, and slower.