THE BETELNUT PALM. 



285 



The Mysore nut is considered superior to all others, and forms 

 four-fifths of the cousumptiou in Madras. 



The nut imported from Ceylon and the western coast is not so 

 much appreciated, and commands a much lower price in the market. 



The land devoted to the areca and cocoanut palms in Mysore 

 amoimts to 48,000 acres, of which the bulk (43,000 acres) is under 

 areca trees. The quantity of betelnuts exported in 1869 was 5069 

 tons, valued at 300,486/. 



In the northern coasts of Acheen, especially Pedir, much attention 

 is given to the Ai^eca palm, and large quantities of betelnuts are sent 

 to Penang and the Coromandel coast. The total production is esti- 

 mated at upwards of 700,000 piculs yearly. In 1874 114,843 piculs 

 were shipped to Pinang. 



The following table gives the exports of Areca nuts from Ceylon 

 for a series of years : 



Year. 



Quantity, 



Value. 



Year. 



Quantity. 



Value. 





cwts. 



£ 





cwts. 



£ 



1S50 



66,254 



42,907 



1863 



68,406 



51,304 



1851 



78,030 



54,806 



1864 



54,326 



40,715 



1852 



71,794 



52,230 



1865 



62,616 



46,962 



1853 



59,396 



46,433 



1866 



94,540 



74,980 

 74,369 



1854 



46,209 



32,175 



1867 



99,159 



1855 



47,399 



42,191 



1868 



93,731 



70,298 



1856 



66,429 



50,183 



1869 



67,759 



50,822 



1857 



47,594 

 69,088 



45,438 



1870 



76,558 



65,501 



1858 



51,816 



1871 



66,543 



62,594 



1859 



49,972 



11,111 



56,997 



1872 



71,715 



64,966 



■ 1860 



75,996 



1873 



146,484 

 129,826 



85,300 



1861 



69,558 



52,168 



1874 



108,730 



1862 



55,372 



41,529 





In Europe there is little demand for betelnuts. Small quantities 

 are occasionally received. They are grated and given to horses as a 

 preventive of diarrhoea, and bui'nt into charcoal for tooth-powder, 

 and sometimes they are tui'ned into small fancy articles, such ,as 

 -rosaries, bracelets, etc. 



The leaf of the Betel Pepper (Piper Beth) is inseparable from 

 the use of the betelnut, the slices of which are wi'apped in a leaf of 

 that plant, over which a small quantity of chunam or lime is spread, 

 to which a fine pink colour is given by mixing a little turmeric. 



The shrub is cultivated all over India in most districts. In 1870 

 there were 16,000 acres covered with it in Madras. It is planted in 

 rows, requires a moist situation and a rather rich soil. 



The plant ha=^ been found wild in Java, which is probably its 

 native country, and is extensively cultivated in the Malay countries. 

 In Bengal it is grown within a fenced enclosure, covered on all sides 

 and on the top by reeds. Its use is considered in the East to be 

 conducive to health. It acts as a powerful stimulant to the salivatory 

 glands and digestive organs, and has been found to be an excellent 

 preservative against scurvy in long sea voyages.* 



* 'The ludigeuous Drug;- of India. 



