20 G. A. J. VAN DER S.A.NDE. 



remain in the temple. For this and the surrounding district one would be justified in talking 

 of Arec a chewirig, for one or two Areca-nuts, pu, are first placed into the mouth, after that 

 some lime is taken and then only a small pièce of the si ri fruit, sidi; the mixture, which finally 

 fills the mouth, is principally derived from Areca. It is also reported from more westerly 

 parts (De CLERCQ and SCHMELTZ [1893, 72]), that fruits, sometimes also the stalk, of Cliavica 

 siriboa Miq. [Piper siriboa L.) are used and not at ail alvvays the leaves of C havic a 

 betle Miq. (Piper betle L.), as mentioned by GRABOWSKY [1888, 191]. 



Therefore, a great différence exists between the way it is used hère and the customary 

 use in K. W. Land as observed by HAGEN [1899, 199] and BlRO [1901, 99], where besides 

 the Areca-nut a little tobacco and some lime is folded up in a siri leaf. BlRO [1. c. fig. 54], like 

 JVlACGREGOR [1897, 74] in Br. New Guinea, found small mortars for pulverizing and mixing the 

 ingrédients. According to BlRO gambir is also used in certain districts, therefore entirely accor- 

 ding to the Malay prescription (GRABOWSKY [1888, 188]. Ail this appears to me to be very 

 improbable, for the préparation of gambir from tvvigs and leaves of Une aria gambir Roxb. 

 is still unknown to the, by Malay influence more cultivated western Papuans and this material 

 is according to De CLERCQ and SCHMELTZ [1893, 72]. imported by traders, whilst the missionaries 

 sometimes, on religious festivals, distribute a little of it. How the people of Astrolabe Bay obtain 

 their gambir, is not reported by BlRO, neither does he mention amongst the materials belonging 

 to the chewing of the bétel, the siri fruit, although he has collected it under N°. 297. I 

 noticed in Humboldt Bay, that never the tobacco, and uever the leaf but always the fruit of 

 siri is used ; indeed the same thing proved to be the case in Oinâke." Of Br. New Guinea 

 Wyatt GlLL [1885, 316] mentions the chewing of the bark of C havic a betle Miq. 

 The mouths of the men on Lake Sentâni and in Humboldt Bay are often so mil, the ségré- 

 gation of saliva so abundant, and the spitting so fréquent, that thèse people, especially when 

 joining at the same time in the conversation, form very unpleasant company. KoNING 

 [1903, 252] and others hâve already pointed to this, to the conséquent indistinetness of the 

 speech and to the dark colour of the teeth. In fact the teeth, which, with the younger 

 people are beautifully white, become dark red by the use of siri. 



Where, as in Humboldt Bay and on Lake Sentâni, no caries of the teeth occurs (see 

 Chapter XIII), it is certainly more easily explained, that there is no objection to each other's 

 saliva and, like the cigarette, the siri quid is passed round. A used quid of a grown-up 

 person is chewed afterwards by the children with évident pleasure. 



I remember a festive dance on the platform of Tobâdi, where a number of boys and 

 girls joined in the dancing. An old man, who passed this group, handed his used quid to 

 a little girl, apparently no more than 5 years old, who immediately took hold of the présent 

 with joyful eyes, but was ail at once forced by the other young girls to divide the quid, after 

 which ail rejoined the dance, chewing and laughing with évident satisfaction. 



Whilst siri fruit and Areca-nuts are usually carried loose in the bag, it is the gênerai 

 custom to the east of the Amberno River to use a small calabash with superficially burnt-in 

 ornaments for the lime. At the spot where the stalk joins the calabash a circulai - opening 

 has been made into which a wooden or bone pin is inserted, closing the aperture. On Lake 

 Sentâni they are generally egg- or pear-shaped, often more like a sausage, and in a finished 

 condition they are traded away from hère to Humboldt Bay. DE CLERCQ and SCHMELTZ 



