504 MIXOR PRODUCTS OF CEYLON 



ripe. The brown conical nut (seed) is commonly used throughout 

 Ceylon, India, Malaya, &c., as a masticatory. In preparing the 

 latter, a few thin slices of the nut are taken, to which is added a dash 

 of lime-paste, some tobacco-leaf, cardamom or other spice; all is 

 then made up in a pellet with the leaf of the betel-vine (see under 

 Betel). Large quantities of arecanuts are thus consumed annually 

 throughout Asia. Arecanuts are also commonly used for destroy- 

 ing w r orms in dogs, in the preparation of dentifrices, and for 



ARECANUT PALMS. At'CCCl Catccllll . 

 SHOWING COOLIES CLIMBING FOR THE " XUTS." 



tanning. The local consumption of the nut is very large, and a con- 

 siderable quantity is exported, chietiy to South India. The quantity 

 now exported from the Island is about 7,480 tons a year, valued at 

 about 185,560. Arecanuts are sold in London at 18s to 22s per c\vt. 

 Very large quantities are produced in South India, Sumatra, Malaya, 

 etc. In Ceylon, the arecanut palm thrives in the moist low-country 

 up to 3,000 ft., and requires but little care in cultivation when well 

 established. It takes six to seven years to come into bearing, and 



