for use in
the Spanish-American countries and for export to Europe--where it is
often passed off for the true cinnamon. Were it not that the province
of anelos is rather inaccessible to commerce, no doubt a great deal more
of it would find its way into the European markets; but there are perils
and hardships in the collecting of this bark, which make it unprofitable
to deal in, even at the full price of the true cinnamon. The Peruvians
believe that, were the tree cultivated in a proper manner, as the
Oriental cinnamon is, its bark would prove equal in quality to the
latter; and perhaps this may be true, since occasionally specimens of it
have been procured, having all the rich aroma of the spice of Ceylon.
These have been taken from trees that grew in favourable situations--
that is, standing alone, and where the sun had free access to the leaves
and flowers. The leaves themselves have the peculiar cinnamon flavour,
and the flowers also; but in a much stronger degree. Indeed, the
flowers are even more aromatic than those of the _laurus cinnamomum_.

It is said that the wild pigs (_peccaries_) are very fond of these
flowers, as well as the seeds, when ripe; and a singular habit of these
animals is related by some of the early Peruvian travellers--the Jesuit
Ovalle for one. The old father states that when a flock of the
peccaries go in search of the flowers of the canela-tree, they separate
into two divisions, of about nearly equal numbers. The individuals of
one division place their shoulders to the different trees; and, by
shaking them violently, cause the flowers to fall down to the earth.
While thus employed, the peccaries of the other party stand under the
shower, and eat undisturbedly until they have quite filled their
bellies, or otherwise satisfied themselves. These last then take the
place of the hungry hogs; and reciprocating the service by shaking the
trees, leave the former to enjoy themselves in their turn!

It is not easy to swallow this story of the Jesuit, though he was
himself a native of the country where the scene is laid. That part of
it which relates to the hogs shaking the trees for one another, is not
likely to be true, though it is possible all the other particulars are
correct.

It may be true enough that the animals shake the trees to bring down the
flowers: for this would exhibit a sagacity not greater than hogs of
other species are capable of; but it is not according to the laws of