122 THE PALMS OF ASIA. 



with a black substance which preserves them 

 from corrosion. The medicinal effects of betel 

 are to dispel nausea and excite an appetite, and 

 to strengthen the stomach. It also possesses 

 nutritious and enlivening qualities, which render 

 it very acceptable to its consumers. Most 

 travellers have represented betel as being of an 

 intoxicating nature ; but Blumc rather views 

 the practice as conducive to health in the damp 

 and pestilent regions of India, where the jiatives 

 live upon a spare and miserable diet. Some- 

 thing of the kind may be needed in consequence 

 of the climate ; for it is well known that vege- 

 table stimulants are in most request in tropical 

 countries, and that their inhabitants use com- 

 monly as condiments a quantity of pepper, ca- 

 yenne, etc., which no ordinary European could 

 endure without long habit and training. The 

 betel chcwers carry the ingredients for com- 

 pounding betel about with them, and serve it to 

 their guests on all occasions ; to the prince in a 

 gold stand, and to the poor in a brass box or mat 

 bag. Tlie betel stands of the; upper ranks arc 

 usually of silver, embossed wdth rude figitres. 

 "When the first salutation is over, which in 

 Sumatra consists of bending the body, and the 

 inferior putting his joined hands between those 

 of the superior, and then lifting them to his 



