it yp With a flice of the pemng nut. Some add to thcfe, I'.^wirrr, i^ hich 
is the le^ of a particular tree, chopped, boiled, and made up into little 
balls ; and tobacco, which is fhred fine for the purpofe, and carried be- 
tween the Up, and upper row of teeth. From the maftication of the firft 
three, proceeds ajuice which tinges thefaliva of a bright red, and which 
the leaf and nut, without the chunam, will not yield. This hue being 
communicated to the mouth and lips. Is efteemcd ornamental ; and aa 
agreeable flavor is imparted to the breath. The juice is ufually, though 
Bot always, iWallo wed by the chewers of beteL We might rcifonably 
fuppofe that its a£fcivc qualities would injure the coats of the ilomach, 
but experierice fecms to difprove fuch a confcquence. It is common 
to fee the teeth of elderly perfons ftand loofe in the gums, which is 
probably the eflfed: of this cuftom, but I do not think that it aBlcEts the 
ibundnefs of the teeth theinfelves* Children begin to chew betel very 
young, and yet their teeth are always beautifully white, till pains arc 
taken to disfigure them, by filing, and flaining them black. To per- 
fons unhabituated to the compofition, it caufes a ftrong giddinefs, aftiin- 
ges and excoriates the tongue and fauces, and deflroys for a time the 
faculty of tafle. During the p.ooqSo, or faft of Ramedan^ the Mahome- 
tans among them, abftain from the ufe of betel, whilft the fun continues 
above the horizon ; but excepting at this feafon, it is the conftant luxury 
of both fexes, from an early period of childhood, till, becoming toothlefs, 
they are reduced to the neceffity of having the ingredients previoufly 
reduced to a pafte for them, that without further effort the betel may 
diiTolve in the mouth. Along with the betel, and generally in the chu* 
nam, is the mode of conveying philtres, or love charms. How far they 
prove effectual I cannot take upon me to fay, but fuppofe that they are 
of the nature of our flimulant medicines, and that the dire<5tion of the 
paffion is of courfe indifcriminate.* The pradice of adminiftertng poi- 
ibn in this manner, is not followed in latter times i but that the idea is 
not fo far eradicated, as entirely to prevent fufpicion, appears from this 
circumftance ; that the gucft, though taking a leaf from the betel fervice 
of his entertainer, not unfrequently applies to it his own chunam, and 
never omits to pafs the former between his thumb and fore finger, in 
order 
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