Dr. F. Hamilton on the llortus Matabaricus, Fart I. 475 



called Areca. Who these nobles were I cannot say ; but I presume 

 they were Portuguese, who obtained the name Areca by some 

 misconception ; for it is not used by any native of India that ever 

 I heard. The specific name Catechu (in the Encyclopedic Ca- 

 thecu) evidently arises from a mistake, originating I believe with 

 Dale, who imagined that the Terra Japonica, or Catechu of Eu- 

 ropean druggists (Kath of the natives), was the produce of this 

 palm; an error once very common, but from which the Ilortus 

 Malabar icus is free. 



The most remarkable quality of this nut, and that for which it 

 is so much used in India, is its narcotic or intoxicating power, 

 not noticed by the Brahmans of the Dutch Governor, who in- 

 deed often overlooked the real qualities of plants, and ascribed 

 to them such as are at least very doubtful. 



Carim — Pana, p. 11. Jig. 9. 

 Borassus Jlabelhformis, fcem. Willd. 



Am Pana, p. 13. Jig. 10. 



Borassus Jtabelliformis, inas. Ibid. 



The uses for which this palm is so much employed in India, 

 are totally omitted in this work, which on such subjects is very 

 superficial and incorrect. The leaf mentioned by Syen in his 

 note, evidently did not belong to this palm, but to the Corypha 

 described in the Hortus Malabaricus, vol. iii. p. 1. 



Schunda Pana, p. 15. Jig. 11. 



This is quoted in the Encyclopedic MSthodique and in Willde- 

 now for the Caryota urens. As however the Seguaster major of 

 Rumphius (Herb. Amb. i. 64. t. 14.) is also quoted by both au- 

 thorities, and was indeed considered by Rumphius as the same 



with 





