GAMBIR. 187 



great extent, the cultivation of Gambir, at their 

 settlement of Rhio, on the Island of Bintang, as 

 they derive a large revenue from its importation 

 and extensive consumption in Java : a prohibitory- 

 duty being also placed upon all Gambir produced 

 in foreign settlements, has still further caused 

 the increase, and still increasing, preparation of 

 it at Rhio. I am indebted to the kindness of a 

 mercantile gentleman at Singapore, who visited 

 and resided for some time at Rhio, for the 

 following observations upon the cultivation 

 and preparation of the Gambir at that settle- 

 ment, together with the quantity annually ex- 

 ported. 



The island of Bintang contains about six thou- 

 sand Gambir plantations, the larger ones consist- 

 ing each of from eighty to a hundred thousand 

 trees; the smaller plantations,. or, as named by 

 the Malays, gardens, contain frbm three to four 

 thousand. The shrubs are in 4ill bearing, and 

 covered with foliage, ten months in the year ; 

 but during December and January, the leaves 

 change to a yellow colour, and* consequently are 

 then in an unfit state for producing the extract. 

 Of course, at some parts of the year, the Gambir 

 manufacturers have nothing to do, the shrubs not 

 being in a fit state for pruning ; but if the de- 

 mand for the extract is very great, the rack- 



