296 



moister thau other parts of that couiitr}'. It does not grow at a 

 ver}' high elevation and is sekloni found above oUdo ft- In Mahiya 

 it naturally thrives owing to the humidity of the atmosphere and is 

 generally met with growing in compounds and occasionally in 

 plantations. Almost every native compound in Malaya has its few 

 "betel nut'" palms %vhich often serve a double purpose, to supply 

 nuts and also to serve as a support for the "betel leaf."' 



PKErAKATlOK OF XUTS. 



Several varieties of the nut are met with in the market, the 

 best class being those which have not undergone any preparation. 

 These may be termed the natural or first class, and are simply 

 dried in the sun before sending to the market. The artificial or 

 second class includes all those varieties which have been prepared 

 in some way before being placed on the market. The usual method 

 of preparation is to boil the nuts either whole or cut into pieces. 

 The latter operation is sometimes performed after boiling but not 

 always. The value of the nuts largely depends on these factors and 

 the natural class generally commands the higliest prices in the 

 market. 



Aheca Catechu or Kossa. 



This is tlie only well kno^vn preparation extracted from the 

 '• betel Dut." It is obtained in the following fashion. A quantity 

 of scraped nuts are placed in water in a large copper pot ; a handful 

 of lime is added and the whole boiled for a time. The nuts are then 

 removed and the same liquid is used for several subsequent boilings 

 of nuts adding water when required. Eventually a thick red-brown 

 substance is produced which is allowed to dry in the sun. This 

 substance is Kossa and it is used to flavour and colour inferior nuts. 

 So far as is known it lias no particular value excc])t for use in the 

 above manner. 



Uses. 

 The chief uses of the " betel nut'" are — 



(a) Masticatory. 



(b) Medicinal. 



{a) Masticatory. — As ju-eviously indicated the chief use of the 

 " betel nut " is for chewing ])urposes. It is sometimes chewed by 

 itself but generally a small piece is rolled up in a '' betel leaf " 

 together with a little lime, catechu or kossa, cardamoms and cloves. 

 Prei>ared in this wa.y it may be seen in most native towns 

 parti(;ularly in Indian Bazaars and shops. It is supposed to sti- 

 mulate digestion and is also claimed to prevent dysentery and 

 generally to strengthen the stomach. 



(&) Medicinal. — The young nut possesses astringent properties 

 and is used in the treatment of bowel complaints and ulcers. If 

 used in powdered form it is very effective in the treatment of dogs 

 for worms. The natives put it to many uses aiul with very good 

 results. 



