46 ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA, 



straggling, and its stately dignity much impaired by its faded 

 look. Betel Palm is gracefulness itself. Tall, slender, fresh- 

 looking and green, with a close luxuriant tuft at the summit of 

 arched or straight leaves, it forms one of the very agreeable 

 embellishments of the tropical flora. The foliage is like a plume 

 of feathers around a warrior's helmet as it waves to and fro in 

 the breeze. It is seen almost everywhere, and is always an index 

 of cultivation. In wandering through the jungle when one gets 

 a sight of Cocoa-nut Palms or Betel Palms, one may be sure that 

 there is, or there has been, a native settlement in the locality. 



Everyone knows the purpose for which Betel is culivated. The 

 seed is cut into small slices, mixed with lime and wrapped up in a 

 leaf of feirrih or Betel pepper, and is chewed by the natives. It 

 is an acquired taste, and one would say not easily acquired, 

 yet the practice is universal, and the natives would forego anything 

 rather than this luxury. A curious fact connected with the Betel 

 is the uncertainty about its habitat. Somewhere in Malaysia, is 

 the conclusion arrived at, but one never sees it in a wild state. 

 The Chinese historians state that it was received from the south 

 B.C. Ill years, and then it bore the name of Pinlang; now, the 

 native name is Pining ; in Javanese, Jambi ; in Balinese, Banda 

 according to Crawfurd, who also says the Bugis call it Rapo ; in 

 Tagalo, Bouga and Bongang-pato, also Sacsic. In all the Philip- 

 pine dialects it should be remarked, however, that Bonga means 

 simply a fruit. The Sanskrit name is Gouvaka (de Candolle). 

 The Telinga name, A.rek, is the origin of the botanical name 

 Areca^ while Betel is the Malabar name. In Hindostanee it is 

 called Paunsooparee or Paun, but this refers to the prepared state 

 of the Betel-nut, lime and pepper leaf. 



The spathe of the leaf contains valuable fibre deserving the 

 attention of paper-makers. The Chinese storekeepers in Singapore 

 and Penang use it for packing, and in India it is employed for 

 many purposes, even water- vessels, caps, umbrellas, &c. It has a 

 tine surface like paper. 



Borassus flabelliformis, or the Palmyra Palm, is seen sparingly 

 near the coast in the Malay Peninsula. It is not common any 



