426 QUALITY OF AREKA NUT. 



ing upon the bottoms of their boats. May, 

 June, and July, are the months for collecting 

 the nuts. They had loaded nine ships this 

 season ; but forty vessels, of all sizes, have been 

 freighted in one season, for Pinang, &c., from 

 whence it is exported to China, Madras, and other 

 parts of continental India. 



The nuts vary in size ; their quality, however, 

 does not at all depend upon this property, but 

 upon their internal appearance when cut, inti- 

 mating the quantity of astringent matter con- 

 tained in them. If the white, or medullary 

 portion, which intersects the red or astringent 

 part be small, has assumed a bluish tinge, 

 and the astringent part is very red, the nut is 

 considered of good quality ; but when the me- 

 dullary portion is in large quantity, the nut is 

 considered more mature, and not possessing so 

 much astringency, is not esteemed so valuable. 



The quantity of nut produced on this coast is 

 stated to be eighty thousand peculs. When 

 there is no- immediate demand for this article, it 

 is not shelled, but preserved in the husk, as it is 

 considered not to be so liable to be destroyed by 

 the worm in that state ; but although this is the 

 opinion of the natives on the coast, yet I have 

 seen nuts destroyed totally by the worm while 

 in the husk, in the space of two months. The 



