CATECHU. 



197 



dried in the sun ; when sufficiently hardened^ it is cut into 

 small square pieces and thoroughly dried^ and in this state 

 packed into cane baskets for exportation. This variety has 

 a light chocolate-brown colour^ and the cubes are about an 

 inch square^ having an earthy fracture and external appear- 

 ance. The other variety^ Ctttchy is of a darker colour^ rich 

 brown^ with a shining appearance and fracture; it comes 

 much mixed with the broken leaves on which it has been 

 laid to dry ; it is packed in a similar manner to the catechu^ 

 but is most generally run into one mass. 



Gambler^ or Gambir^ is an extract of the leaves of the 

 Nandea Gamhir : this plant belongs to the Natural Order 

 of the Cinchonas^ or Jesuits^ bark trees. It is made by boil- 

 ing the leaves and evaporating the decoction to dryness ; in 

 appearance it resembles cutch^ but is not so glossy in its 

 fracture, and rather lighter in colour. It is mostly imported 

 from Singapore, where it is extensively cultivated. 



Small quantities of a remarkably fine kind of catechu 

 have occasionally been imported in the form of small round 

 cakes, about one inch in thickness and two inches and a 

 half in diameter, and rounded at the edges. These cakes 

 are of a very dark brown colour, and rather glossy ; they 

 come in cases carefully packed, with a small piece of maize- 



