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Manners and Customs of the Ceylonese. 
The Ceylonese are exeeediiigly polite and ceremonious, and 
never fail, on meeting, to present each other with the betel- 
leaf, their constant mark of respect and friendship. Ail ranks 
universally chew the betel- leaf ; it is the dessert to all their en- 
tertainments, and the unfailing supplement to all their conver- 
sations. The betel-leaf in shape resembles ivy, but in colour 
and thickness it approaches more nearly to the leaf of the 
laurel. Along with the betel-leaf they mix tobacco, areka-nut, 
and the lime of burnt shells, to render it more pungent, as is 
the custom with other Indians. When chewed, this mixture be- 
comes as red as blood, and stains their mouth, lips, and teetli, 
of a black colour which can never be eftaced. This effect, 
which to an European would deform the countenance, with 
them is considered as beautifying it, for they look upon white 
teeth as only fit for dogs, and a disgrace to the human species. 
The hot mixture, however, speedily destroys their teeth, anil 
often renders them toothless at an early age. They also fre- 
quently stain their nails and fingers with the juice of the 
betel-leaf ; but this seems to be attended with no bad conse- 
quence, as their hands are delicate and well formed in an un- 
common degree. 
There is a wonderful degree of gravity observed in conver- 
sation even among relations and intimate friends. It is not 
unusual to see a party of Ceylonese sit for a long time together 
as grave and mute as an assembly of Quakers when the spirit 
does not move them; and during all this while, they continue 
chewing betel-leaf as if for a wager, and apparently enjoying 
it as much as an Englishman would a bottle of old port. 
In their salutations they are particularly punctilious : the form 
which they use is that common to all Indians, of bringing the 
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