VEGETABLE KINGDOM. IO3 



t'eng), which is probably a reproduction of the Malaysian 

 name for this plant (vettila). The Pentsao gives several 

 other names of somewhat similar sound, which it says have 

 not been explained, and which are probably local variations of 

 the same name. The leaves (called ^ ^, Lli-yeh) of this vine 

 are spread with chunam and wrapped about a slice of Ai'eca 

 nut, and the product is chewed by the Malays. It produces a 

 species of intoxication, which is probably the result of a 

 substance developed in the combination, as none of the com- 

 ponent parts taken alone has any such effect. It is now said 

 to grow in South China, as far north as Szechuan. The 

 leaves are used in Yunnan as a condiment. The root, leaves 

 (695, 696), and fruits are employed in medicine, being con- 

 sidered to have carminative, stimulant, corrective, and pro- 

 phylactic properties, and they have some reputation in the 

 prevention and treatment of malaria. In the appendix to the 

 Pentsao an oil, called ^ fjfj (Lii-yu), is mentioned, and is said 

 to be made from the leaves of this plant. It is highly 

 recommended as a counter-irritant in swellings, bruises, and 

 painful sores, as well as to reduce enlarged glands. 



CHAVICA ROXBURGHIL— ^* ^ (Pi-po), 1008. This 

 is the long pepper^ the Piper longuni of Linnaeus. A number 

 of combinations of characters, having approximately the same 

 sound, are given in the Pentsao for this plant. This shows 

 that the name is of foreign origin, and inasmuch as it approxi- 

 mates the sound of the name for this article found in other 

 languages, it is probably of identical origin. The Sanscrit 

 name was pippala^ which is approximated by ^ |^ ^ (Pi-po- 

 li), given in the Pentsao as the name in the language of the 

 country of ^ ']^ P'£ (Mo-chia-t'o), or Magadha, which became 

 the Pali of the Buddhists. In the country of Fulin the drug 

 was known by the name of ppj ^ |rJ' p'£ (A-li-ho-t'o). Many 

 countries of Southern Asia, from Persia eastward, are given as 

 the places of origin of the drug, but the principal supply is 

 shipped from India. Points of similarity to other peppers, 

 especially to Chavica betel and Piper 7iigruin^ are noted by 

 Chinese authors. The spiked fruits, sold under this name on 

 the Chinese market, average more than an inch long, are 



