GAMBIR 143 



bir, as related by Fliickiger, is of much interest. We 

 present it, as follows: 



"Gambier is one of the substances to which the name 

 of Catechu or Terra Japonica is often applied ; the other 

 is Cutch. By druggists and pharmaceutists the two 

 articles are frequently confounded, but in the great 

 world of commerce they are reckoned as quite distinct. 

 In many price-currents and trade-lists Catechu is not 

 found under that name, but appears only under the 

 terms Cutch and Gambier. 



"Crawfurd asserts that gambier has been exported 

 from time immemorial to Java from the Malacca 

 Straits. This statement appears highly questionable. 

 Rumphius, who resided in Amboyna during the second 

 half of the 17th century, was a merchant, consul and 

 naturalist; and in these capacities he became thoroughly 

 conversant with the products of the Malay Archipelago 

 and adjacent regions, as the six folio volumes of his 

 Herbarium Amboinense, illustrated by 587 plates, 

 amply prove. 



"Among other plants, he figures Uncaria Gambier, 

 which he terms Funis uncatus, and states to exist under 

 two varieties, the one w r ith broad, and the other with 

 narrow leaves. The first form, he says, is called in 

 Malay Daun Gatta Gambir, on account of the bitter 

 taste of its leaves, which is perceptible in the lozenges 

 (trochisci) called Gatta Gambir, so much so that one 

 might suppose they were 'made from these leaves, 

 which, however, is not the case. He further asserts that 

 the leaves have a detergent, drying quality by reason 

 of their bitterness, which is nevertheless not intense, 

 but quite bearable in the mouth; that they are masti- 

 cated instead of Pinang (Betel nut) with Siri (leaf of 



