Malay Peninsula.] ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



33<> 



that case it is usual to obtain the Rajah's stamp upon it, who takes care it 

 is of good quality. 



Gutta Gambir, (Gambir Hind.) or Gambia, is a juice extracted from 

 the leaves of a plant nearly allied to the genus Naudea, (Cadamba^ 

 San.) growing on Sumatra, and elsewhere, inspissated by decoction, strained, 

 suffered to cool and harden, and then cut into cakes of different sizes, or 

 formed into balls. The chief places of manufacture are Saik, Malacca, and 

 Rhio on Bintang. It is used by the Malays with the leaves of bete), in the 

 same manner as cutch in other parts of India : for this purpose the tinest 

 and whitest is selected ; the red, being stronger tasted and rank, is exported 

 to Batavia and China, for the purposes of tanning and dying. Gambir, 

 when first tasted, impresses on the palate a strong sensation of bitterness and 

 astringency, but it leaves a sweetish taste, which remains a long time. The 

 finest and whitest kind is formed into little round cakes or lo/.enges. It is 

 sold per laxa of 10,000, and one laxa weighs about 40 catties. This article 

 is frequently adulterated with sago powder, but it may be detected by 

 solution in water. 



Kemo Shells (Chama gigas) are the shells of a very large species of 

 cockle, commonly called Dutchman's cockle, common on the shores of 

 many of the Eastern islands, and are sometimes upwards of 3 feet in 

 diameter, and weighing from % to 4 Cwt. per pair. They are occasionally 

 brought home as curiosities, and are much esteemed. They should be 

 chosen of the largest size, the internal part perfectly white, and free from 

 eracks and decay. 



Lignum Aloes, (Agalltx-hum), or calamhac, is the wood of a tree 

 growing in some parts of the Malay Peninsula, Cochin China, Siam, Sec, 

 It is described as resembling an olive; and the wood, being so much 

 esteemed among tin- Asiatics, is carefully watched. The trunk is of three 

 colours, and distinguished by different names in commerce, vix. 



L Eagle Wood is that immediately under the bark, and is black, 

 compact, and heavy, somewhat resembling ebony, and called by the Portu- 

 guese poo tfaquilu, or eagle wood ; it sinks in water. 



II. Is light and veiny, of a yellowish brown colour, somewhat like 

 rotten wood, and when burnt, affords a pleasant smell, and d<jes not sink 

 in water. This is the kind commonly known in Europe ; it is harder, 

 drier, more like dust in the mouth, and weaker in alJ its qualities than 

 the real calambac, or heart of the tree ; the nearer it approaches to that, 

 the better. 



III. Calambac is the heart, or centre part of the tree, and is the 

 wood so much esteemed in all parts of India. It should bu chosen of a 



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