GAMBIR. 185 



mous fire, which consumes a very large quan- 

 tity of wood ; the leaves were frequently stirred, 

 and such additions of them made, as were re- 

 quired by their diminution during the boiling pro- 

 cess, until the cauldron being entirely full they are 

 suffered to boil for some length of time together. 

 After thus remaining for several hours, the 

 leaves are removed from the cauldron, and placed 

 upon a large bark shoot near it ; and the drain- 

 ings from them return into the ve'ssel. 



The leaves are usually boiled twice, and, after 

 being well washed upon the shoot, the washings 

 are thrown into the cauldron, so that none 

 of the extract may be lost. The leaves are 

 then consigned to their final destination, that 

 of being strewn over the soil of the pep- 

 per plantations. The liquor remaining in the 

 cauldron, as well as the drainings, is reboiled, 

 and inspissated until it arrives at the consist- 

 ence of a very thick extract : it is then placed into 

 oblong moulds. At this time, it resembles very 

 much a very light yellowish-brown clay. After 

 remaining some time in the mould, it is taken 

 out, divided with a knife into pieces, sub- 

 divided into small squares, and placed upon a 

 raised platform in the sun to dry. It becomes, 

 when hard and dry, of a very dark-brown colour, 



