WESTERN HINDOOSTAN. 



liquor called Toddy \ the Indians hang, to the part left adherent 

 to the tree, an earthen pot, in which is collecSted from a pint 

 to a quart a day. From this liquor, fermented, is diftilled an 

 excellent Arrack, and a very fiery dram called Fool, with which 

 our feamen too frequently intoxicate themfelves. 



Areca Cathecu, or Pinanga, Rumpb. i. tab. iv. to vii. is, from 

 the univerfal cuftom of chewing the nut with Betel, a moft 

 ufeful tree, and greatly cultivated in every part of India, 

 The FUny of India gives feveral plates of it, with the form 

 of the nut, and frudtification, and of the cultivated and wild 

 kinds ■'■■'". The nuts are ufually of the lize of a hen's egg: 

 they are therefore broken and prepared for chewing, wrap- 

 ped in the bitter leaf of the Betel, mixed with Chunan, or 

 fliell lime, and in that form taken all over I}idia by people 

 of every age, fex, and condition. Rumphius, i. p. 32, is moft 

 particvdar about the ufe, and the great pomp and ceremony 

 with which the Indian monarchs beftow it on the embafladors 

 they receive from foreign ftates. It is the compliment of the 

 country to offer this at vifits, or wherefoever people meet : 

 it is an emblem of peace and friendfliip, is fuppofed to ex- 

 hilarate the fpirits, to ftrengthen the ftom.achs (but at the 

 expence of- the teeth), and is particularly in repute with 

 ladies of intrigue, as it is fuppofed to improve the powers 

 of love. "Y\iQ' Arabs call the Areca xxtt FaufeL Gerard, p. 

 1520, has Caufed it to be engraven. 



These trees are not found in Coromandel or Bengal. Tlie 

 nuts are fent there in great quantities, as articles of commerce. 



* Betela-coii), Rhsede. v. tab, l6. 



T 2 The 



139 



