332 A NATURALIST IN CELEBES 



capable of taking a polish like pure white marble. Chemi- 

 cally they were fomid by Dr. Kimmins to consist of pure 

 calcium carbonate without any traces of other salts or 

 vegetable products (86). The larger spherical specimen 

 is half an inch in diameter, the other pear-shaped one rather 

 smaller. 



It has been supposed by some naturalists that these pearls, 

 first described by Eumphius (66), are not really the pro- 

 duct of coco-nuts, but are perhaps the concretions formed 

 in the shells of tridacnas or other large bivalves. I have 

 had the opportunity of comparing my specimens with some 

 true tridacna pearls. The difference between them both in 

 appearance and texture is considerable, and I feel confident 

 that they cannot be the product of the same animal. There 

 is, however, but little reason for us to disbelieve in their 

 coco-nut origin, for Dr. Eiedel, writing to Nature (65), says, 

 ' I have a collection of fourteen coco-nut pearls (one of 

 them I myself found in 1866 at Holontalo, N. Celebes, in the 

 endosperm of the seed of the coco-nut).' 



The pinang, betel-nut, or areca palm, one of the hand- 

 somest of the many handsome palms of the East Indies, 

 with its smooth ringed stem and terminal crown of large 

 green leaves, is also highly valued by the Alfurs of 

 Minahassa. It provides them with one of the principal in- 

 gredients of the bolus or quid which many of them are in the 

 habit of chewing. So important has the practice of betel- 

 chewing become to the Malays that in many regions no 

 business, no religious or other ceremony, no love-making, 

 can be carried on until the betel has been chewed in silence 

 for some minutes. If the traveller in the wild parts of 

 Malayia wishes to gain the confidence of and become really 

 friendly with the native rajahs he comes in contact with, he 

 should learn to chew the betel at the hitjaras, or conferences, 

 without expressing disgust or pleasure. He may find it a very 



