1846.] 



THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE. 555 



understood, and the plant could be cultivated, (as probably could be done,) it would 

 form, for many years, a considerable export to this peculiar people, who are so ox- 

 ceedingly tenacious of their prejudices and predilections. 



Agar- Agar . — This is a sea-weed, the Fucus saccharinus, and is much used by the 

 Chinese as a paste, and is the article of which they malje their transparent lan- 

 terns. It forms an excellent p.ste, and is said not to be eaten by insects. It is 

 also used in the manufacture of paper and silk, and is extensively used as a sweet- 

 meat. It is brought from New-Holland, New-Guinea, Singapore, and all the adja- 

 cent islands. It soils in Canton at $1 50 to $2 00 per pecul (133| pounds.) Its 

 cheapness and qualities as a paste, render it worthy the attention of manufac- 

 turers of other countries. 



Betel-nut. — The leaf of the Betel pepper, (piper betel,) and the nut of the areca 

 palm, (areca catechu) constitute together the article wiiich is improperly called 

 betel-rut, and is used as a masticatory throughout the east. As an article of com- 

 merce, it is sold Geparate'y unclnr the name of betel nut, so called, because it is 

 always used with the leaf of the betel pepper. The areca nut is the fruit of a slen- 

 der palm, from six to twelve inches diameter, and about thirty feet high. The tree 

 produces fruit from the age of five to twenty-five years. The, nut resembles a nut- 

 meg in shape, color, and internal structure, but is a little longer and harder. The 

 annual produce of a tree is about fourtjen pounds, and the little care required in 

 procuring it, enables the cultivator to sell it at fifty cents per pecul. The betel 

 pepper is the vine from which the leaf is obtained, and from which alone it is cul- 

 tivated. The flavor cf the leaf is very peculiar, being between a herbaceous and 

 an aromatic taste, ar.J a little pungent. The vine requires a rich moist soil. Tho 

 tree on which it is supported, it is affirmed, alfects the quality and quantity of the 

 produce. In the preparation tho nut is cut in pieces, wrapped in the raw leavea 

 with a small quant ity of lime, sufficient to give it a flavor. 



All classes of people are in the habit of chewing it, male and female, and they 

 say that it sweetens the breath, rectifies and strengthens tho stomach, and pre- 

 serves the teeth, and gives the gums, lips, and teeth a dark red color, which is 

 esteemed a mark of beauty in proportion to the darkness. There is probably less 

 objection to its use than tobacco; its narcotic properties are not so great, audits 

 taste is more pleasant. It probably does not preserve the teeth, as the teeth of 

 those nations ,vho use it are not so liable to decay as Europeans or their descen- 

 dants. It is said by some to be an effectual preventive for dysentery, which may 

 also bo doubled. Those brought from the coast of Malabar are not so good as those 

 from the Indian Islands. The betel.nut leaf is used in India for dying cottons. It 

 sells for ^2 or ^3 per pecul. 



Aniseed-Stars. — These are the fruit of a small tree, (the lUicium anisatum,) 

 which is cultivated in China. They are valuable for the volatile oil obtained from 

 them, and also for the husks, which have a more aromatic flavor than the seed, 

 but are not so sweet. The Chinese use them to season sweet dishes. They are 

 exported at $>11 or $12 a pecul ; the oil at $2 per catty, which is generally used 

 for medicinal purposes. 



Benzoin or Benjamin. — This resin is tho concrete juice of a small tree, (the 

 styrax benzoin,) which grows in Sumatra, in rich moist soil. Its geograpical 

 limits are tho same as the camphor tree, being only found in Borneo proper, and 

 in the country of tho Dattacks, in Sumatra ; but, unlike that tree, is cultivated. 

 When the trees are seven years old, an incision is made in tho bark, and the gum 

 which exudes is carefully scraped off. The trees produce tho best Benzoin in 

 three years. This first gathering is called "head ;" that which is produced during 

 the next eight or ten years, and which is inferior in quality, is known by the name 

 of "belly ;" and at the end of tho above period, tho tree is supposed to be worn out, 

 and is cut down and split to pieces, and all tho gum is scraped off from tho frag- 

 ments of wood, which last is denominated "foot," and is full of sticks and dirt. 

 The price is !$.50 to $100 a pecul for the best, $25 to $45 for the second, and from 

 ^8 to $20 for the third. It is used for incense in the churches, and for fumigating 

 houses. 



Galangal This root is obtained from two different plants, the greater from the 



haempferia galanga ; tho smaller from tho maranta galanga. The greater is a tough 

 woody root with a thin bark, and full of knobby circles on tbo oulsido. It is bitter- 



