THE PALMS OF ASIA. 121 



cultivated, and is trained upon poles ; or very 

 often plantains or bamboos are planted with the 

 betel plants, so that as the former grow upwards 

 the pepper vine may twist around them, and 

 cling to them for support ; or when a plantation 

 of areca palms is about fifteen years old, betel 

 cuttings are planted near the root, and trained 

 up to the trees. In twelve or eighteen months 

 the leaves are fit for use, and in three years they 

 have attained their full size ; in the fourth year 

 they die, and new plants must be substituted. In 

 eighteen or twenty years the soil is considered 

 exhausted. The palm and pepper gardens are 

 always inclosed by a strong hedge, but squirrels 

 and even elephants do great mischief, and often 

 entail heavy losses on the cultivators. 



The union of the three ingredients of which 

 betel is compounded is supposed to correct 

 effects which each would produce if used singly ; 

 the nut improves the bitterness of the leaf, and 

 the lime prevents any injury to the stomach. 

 The first consequences to the betel chewer are 

 to turn the saliva red, and in progress of time 

 to turn the teeth black. If the lime be omitted, 

 the saliva will not be tinged ; and the baneful 

 effects of this caustic earth upon the teeth may 

 be prevented by rubbing them with a prepara- 

 tion, whereby they become permanently coated 



