hood ; till, becoming toothless, they are reduced to the ex: 
tremity of having the ingredients previously reduced to a_ 
paste for them, that, without further effort, the Betel may 
dissolve in the mouth. Along with the Betel, and generally — 
in the Chunam, is the mode of conveying philtres, or love- 
charms. How far they prove effectual 1 cannot take upon 
me to say ; but J suppose that they are of the nature of our 
stimulant medicines, and that the direction of the passion is _ 
indiscriminate. The practice of administering poison in 
this manner is not followed in later times ; but that the idea 
is not so far eradicated, as entirely to prevent suspicion, ap- 
pears from this circumstance, that the guest, though taking 
a leaf from the betel-service of his entertainer, not unfre- 
quently applies it to his own chunam, and never omits to 
pass the former between his thumb and fore-finger, in order 
to wipe off any extraneous matter. This mistrustful pro- 
edure is so epmamon as not to give offence.” ? : 
an ancient Sanscrit inscriptio éde, i 
the district of Adon, (or Pais ee vee ‘the 
Asiatic Researches, this plant is reckoned among the greatest blessings 
of the country :—“ In its towns are numerous groves of Mangou planta- 
tions, of luxuriant Beéel, and fields of Rice; channels of water and wells; 
opulent men and beautiful women ; temples of gods and of the saints; 
and men blessed with vigour of body and every virtue.” 
It is related in the life of Sir Sramrorp Rarruzs, that when Lady 
Rarries reached Merambung in Sumatra, being much a 
walking, the rest of the party having dispersed in various directions, she 
lay down under the shade of a tree, when a Malay girl approached with | 
eelied * N of manner, and on being asked if dir wasted any thing, 
replied, No, but as you were quite alone, I thought you might like to 
nag little — (talk); so I came to offer you some Siri, (Betel, 
Considered medicinally, the Betel is kno ; 
i ‘ wn to stimulate powerluby 
the salivary glands andthe organs of digestion, and to diminish the pee 
e skin. Notwithstanding the statements of Mr. MarsDEN 
pr ve quoted, the chewing of Betel is said by the pe of the “ Dic- 
. ch a degree, that persons who use it habit are 
deprived of all that part of the teeth above the gums at the age 
twenty-five or thirt : ‘ age 
employment of it. ¥ years; yet, this does not hinder the univers 
general is the cultivation of this pl it is di Gf 
the cr plant, that it is difficult to say 
pe tng eae it is really wild. Roxsurcu never saw it in a stale 
he a a t author says it is raised from slips and cuttings, which 
as to be y planted in a rich, moist soil, well enclosed and shaded, ° 
: protected in a great measure both from sun and rain. 
places, Dag plantations of AiscuyNomEne grandiflora are made to 
ie og tae en to heey off the sun ; in others poles are employed for 
, and a thin shed of mats over them for the latter purpose. 
Tas. 3132. Specimen with . 
8 ith nearly mature Spikes. Fig. i — 
| 2. Female Flowers, magnified. 3. Seed or Frit, gs Be Phe same, magnifie 
