THE PALMS OF ASIA. 123 



forehead, the betel is presented as a token of 

 hospitahty and an act of politeness. To omit 

 it on the one hand, or to reject it on the other, 

 would be an affi-ont, as it would be also in a 

 person of subordinate rank to address a great 

 man without the precaution of chewing it 

 before he spoke. All the preparation consists 

 in spreading on the betel leaf a small quantity 

 of chunam, and folding it wp with a slice of 

 areca nut. The red hue which is communicated 

 to the mouth and lips is esteemed ornamental, 

 and an agreeable flavour is imparted to the 

 breath. The juice is usually, after the first 

 fermentation produced by the lime, though not 

 always, swallowed by the chewers of betel. la 

 some countries, it is not imusual for the guest 

 who receives the betel from his host to pass it 

 between his thumb and forefinger, so as to 

 remove the lime of his host, after which he 

 applies his own. This practice never gives 

 offence, and is supposed to have originated in 

 consequence of the horrible practice, once so 

 common, of mixing up poison in the lime. 

 During the fast of Ramadan, the Mohamme- 

 dans abstain from the use of betel while the sun 

 continues above the horizon ; but excepting at 

 this season it. is the constant luxury of both 

 sexes, from an early period of childhood till, 



