B4A

1. Hence the fact that cinnamon, cloves, vanilla and ylang- ylang were grown on the Comoros and Madagascar at the time of Benjamin's visit in SE 235. Al-Habaqi's voyage, however, was only partially successful in breaking the Spice Islands' monopoly, as he was unable to obtain seedlings of some plants and others died en route. The Spice Islands are still the only source of nutmeg, mace, cubebs, cardamom and elemi oil, for instance, and are also a major source of sandalwood, aloes and pepper.

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