CHINESE VARNISH BETEL-LEAF. 147 



ANACARDIACE^. 



One of the most interesting individuals in this family is 

 the Melanorrhaa usitata, of which an excellent plate and 

 ample account are given by our friend Dr. Wallich in the 

 Plantce AsialiccB Rarwrcs. It is an enormous tree, with 

 fine massy foliage, and splendid clusters of dark rose- 

 coloured involucres, which at first sight looked like the blos- 

 soms. Its known geographical range is from Munipur, in 

 lat. 25° north, long. 94° east, to Tavoy, in lat. 14°, long. 

 97°. Every part of it abounds in a thick and viscid gray- 

 ish-brown liuid, which turns black on exposure to the air. 

 This fluid is collected in large quantities, and forms an 

 admirable varnish, supposed to be the same made use of by 

 the Chinese in their eastern and north-eastern provinces. 

 There is also no doubt that it is the theet-tsec, or varnish-tree 

 of the Burmese. This, as well as some other Indian var- 

 nishes, is dangerous to many constitutions, and produces 

 painful and alarming effects.* 



Another large tree producing varnish is the Semecarptis 

 Anacardium, or marking- nut-tree of commerce, a native of 

 the mountainous parts of India. The seed of this tree \s 

 a nut resting on a fleshy receptacle, and furnished with two 

 coats, between which is the black, corrosive, resinous juice 

 from which the varnish is manufactured. The fruit, while 

 green, is sometimes pounded into a pulp for birdlime ; and 

 the acrid juice used externally to remove rheumatic pains, 

 but it often produces inflammation. The fleshy receptacle 

 of the seed is roasted in the ashes and eaten by the natives ; 

 the taste is exceedingly like that of roasted apples. 



PIPERACE^. 



The betel-leaf, familiar by name at least to the general 

 reader, is a species of pepper, the Piper betel of Linnteus. 

 It is highly esteemed by the natives of India, and cultivated 

 in most of the provinces, but especially in Guzerat. It is 

 a beautiful climber, and yields, after its fourth season, an 

 abundant supply of leaves for six or seven years. 



^ Platitae Asiaticse Rariores, vol. i. p. 9.— See also, for an account of 

 the poisonous qualiiies of vepeiable varnisbes, Brewster's Journal of 

 Science, vol. viii, p. 96 and 100. 



