1806. } 
this difference of opinion may arife from 
different cuftoms which may prevail in 
different parts of this ifland. In fome 
laces I believe they do not make, fo de- 
cided a diftinétion between the long and 
fhort powers of vowels, particularly of the 
zand the 0, as we do in the fouthern dif- 
tricts. Wenever hear the long z in Jatro- 
cinium, northe longo in gculus. Pépulus, 
a poplar-tree, is often pronounced with a 
thort 9, but pipulus, people, is not ufually 
founded witha long 0. When the accent 
lies on the antepenult, if the vowel be na- 
rally long, we almoft always change it 
into a fhort one ; but if the vowel be by 
nature fhort, there are but few inftances in 
which we change it into a long one. 
Jjam).: Sir, ‘éc., 
J. PickBouRN, 
Hackney, Feb. 4, 1806, 
=a 
Io the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, | 
he the following obfervations on a ve- 
getable plant of China may rot he 
uninterefting to fome clafles of your read- 
ers, I beg leave to folicit its infertion in 
your valuable and juftly-efteemed publi- 
cation. 
The areka or furrapi of China is ufed 
ameng the Chinefe by wrapping it in the 
Jeaf of the betel or paung-lceaf, a fhrub 
fimilar to the woodbine or ivy tm England, 
which encircles itfelf round the areka- 
tree, a fpecies cf palm, that generally at- 
tains the height of thirty or forty feet, per- 
feetly ftraight, of the circumference of a full- 
grown poplar, with protuberant rings on 
the bark at equal diftances, poffefling no 
branches but at the head, where it {preads 
itfelf, and to them is fufpended the fruit 
or nut of the arcka, erroneovufly termed 
beetle-nut, enveloped in an outward coat- 
ing of numerous filaments, being in fize 
about an Englifh walnut, but more coni- 
cal. This hufk is not unlike, nearly 
equai to, the rind of a cocoa-nut, but more 
foft and pliable. Timagine it is either in 
quantity infufficient, or there is a {ucce- 
daneum in the bark of other trees which 
are more profitable in converting into pa- 
per, which the Chinefe produce from al- 
moit every fpecies of cortical vegetable. 
The properties of the areka are unparal- 
leled as an extreme beautifier and eminent 
preferver of the teeth. Its ftrong aftrin- 
geney gives them firength, and is unex- 
ceptionably the fineft antifcorbutic known. 
I have feen many Europeans who 
had the moft indifferent teeth, and who 
were frequently troubled with the tanta- 
Account of the Areka-Tree, 
- portation. 
103 
lizing affliftion of the tooth-ache, by a 
fhort refidence in India, where they have 
conftanily accuftomed themfelves to ite 
ufe, permanently relieved, and the ap- 
pearance of their teeth wonderfully ime 
proved. The moft offenfive breath has 
been overcome; as the areka poflefles one of 
the moft agreeable odours I have met 
with either in China, the Moluccas, or 
the whole peninfula of Indoftan. I may, 
perbaps be confidered too fanguine or par- 
tial in my praife of this vegetable ; yet I 
feel confident, no one who is acquainted 
with it will give an opinion any wife 
unfavourably to the ftatement I have 
given. It isto be regretted this has not 
long fince been a principal article of im- 
So highly and fo juftly as’ it 
is efteemed in China, yet in Europe it is 
in fact fearcely known. It may perhaps 
be confdered in this country extraordi- 
nary, fince its virtues are fo great, when. 
I mention it is, notwithftanding, neither 
cultivated among agriculturifts or private 
gentlemen in India: it is the cafual 
inhabitant of every wood or jungle, like 
many of our moft valuable herbs, which 
grow fpontaneoufly in the fields, unheeded 
or difregarded but by the herbalift or bo- 
tanift, The faliva that is produced by 
chewing this nut is of the moft beautiful 
red the eye can either witness or the ima- 
gination conceive ; and were there a pof- 
fibility of extrating the dye, its richnefs 
would be unexampled, and difplace thofe 
that are now held in the highef confidera- 
tion. But the colour of this nut is only 
imparted in its green tate: when it be- 
comes haidened, it will not difclofe this 
valuable property to aqueous, {pirituous, 
or cily menfiruums ; and no means which 
I have as yet been made acquainted with 
are capable of fuccefs. I have heard of 
its being infufed, after levigation, in {pi- 
rits, and aéting as a great corroborator of 
the Romach, and facilitating digeltion. 
As a ttyptic medicine, it mav not be infe- 
rior to the be& Peruvian bark. It is 
perfectly taftele(s, except that aroma- 
tic effluvia arife after it is chewed, 
The circumftance of the betel growing 
round the areka-tree, may be confidered 
as the caufe of the leaf of this vire be- 
ing wrapped and chewed together with 
the areka-nut, as if nature indicated the 
propriety of blending them, in order, as . 
it is perfectly known, to correct the pre- 
dominant bitternefs of the betel by the 
aromatic flavour of the areka. The ano- 
dyne property of the former renders it a 
peculiar favourite of the natives. Its in- 
toxicaling nature procures alleviation to 
the 
