1806.] The Word * Polacca’ explained—The Areka-Tree. 389 
To the Editor of ihe Monthly Magazine. ‘To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, SIR, 
i hore correfpondent G. H.E. (p. 204 
of your laft Number,) inquires the 
meaning of the term Polaca. I be- 
lieve this Italian word is commonly fpell- 
ed Polacca, and fometimes, but erroneoul- 
ly, Pollacca. It is ufea in mufic with the 
fame intent as the French word Polonoi/e, 
and the piece to which it is applied is 
either Polifh, or in the ftyle of Polifh mu- 
fic. Inthe fame manner are the terms 
Ecoffois and Scozzefe uled to fignify the 
mulic of Scotland. ‘* Pieces which are to 
be played in the movement and expreffion 
of fome dances ateinfcribed Alla Siciliana, 
in the time of a Sicilian fhepherd’s dance ; 
Alla Polacca, in the time of a Polifh dance 
(moftly an allegretto movement). — 
Turk’s Treatife on the Piano-Forte, 
chap. 6. 
I have fearched for this term in many 
other works without fuccefs ; and it may 
fave trouble to fome if I mention the 
principal of thofe wherein it is not to be 
found. Difionnaire de Mufique, par 
Broflard ; Diétionnaire de Mulique, par 
Rouffeau ; Graffineau’s Mutical Diction- 
ary ; Dr. Bufby’s Mulical Dictionary ; 
Kollmann’s Effay on Compofition, &c. 
Polouoife is to be found in the two laf of 
thefe only. ** The Polonoife is a parti- 
cular charaéteriftic piece in 3 time, and 
its movement like a majeftic but fluent an- 
dante, or andantino. It deviates from the 
geneial rule re{pecting fimple meafure, in, 
making every rhythmical czfure, not on 
the firft, out on the jaft time or crotchet 
of the bar, fo that every bar is fimilar to 
a ftrain of three bars in 2 time. _ Itis ge- 
nerally written in two or four feétions, of 
fix, eight, or a few more bars, like one 
or two alternate minuetts. Sultzer gives 
a defcription of the other characterittics 
which are required in this piece, if it fhall 
have its true natiooal originality. An 
example fee in No. 3 of Handel’s twelve 
grand concertos.”’—Kolimann, chap. 12, 
On Style and National Mufic. 
Pelacca is not to de tound in Baretti’s 
Ttalian Ditticnary, 4to., nor in Graglia’s 
nor in Peretti’s Grammaire Italienne, at 
Explication des mots ftaliens que Ven em- 
plocile pius communément dans la Mu- 
Sique. 
«© Polacco, a Pclander.’’ — Veneroni’s 
Tialian mafter. 
Perhaps Polacca arofe from Polachia, 
a {mall territory fituated in the middle of 
Poland. Iam, Sir, &c., 
ARNOLD MERRICK,” 
Cirencefier, April2o, 1806. 
made. 
I HAVE obferved in your Mifcellany 
defcription of the Areka, or Betel-nut,. 
by Mr. Hutchinfon, who feems to have 
dwelt confiderably upon molt of the pro- 
perties of this vegetable; yet jt appears 
fingular that he has omitted to give the 
nature of pauns, which I {hall here de. 
feribe. Mr. H. has befides made a moft 
palpable error in regard to the betel-leaf, 
which he obferves is foporific, and from 
the intoxicating qualities it pofiefles is a 
favourite with the natives. 
How Mr. H. could have fell into fuch 
a mianifeft error I cannot determine. 
Since he feems to have travelled over great 
part of India, it is undoubtedly fingular 
he fhouid prove fo incorreét in fuch a ma- _ 
terial point. He likewife afcribes a very 
confiderable odour to the areka which be- . 
longs to the betel. 
As to its dentifrical properties, I do 
not combat, but, on the contrary, moft . 
willingly fubfcribe toevery encomium that 
can be alleged in its behalf, fince I have 
both witnefled and experienced feveral 
fags of the very efficacious powers of this 
nut in preferving and improving the teeth; 
and I readily believe there is nothing that 
can in any way equal, much le(s furpafs, 
the ineftimable qualities of the areka, 
The delightful fragrance of the hetel is 
moft grateful to the fenfe; but it is nei- 
ther intoxicating nor foporific. 
Tn the pauns the lower clafs ufe tobac- 
co, opium, &c. ; from which circumfttance 
lt may not be improbable that Mr. H. 
might have confidered the betel caufed 
drowfinels, a miltake not unfrequently 
The areka, when gathered, is 
folded in two or three leaves of the betel 
or paun, with the chunam or lime made 
from calcined fhelis, which lime extraéts a 
very beautiful red juice from the arekae 
nut. This nut is cut in pieces by an in- 
ftrument made on purpofe, and, together 
with the lime and aromatic ingredients, 
formed into a palte, and thus compounded 
comprifes a real funeta paun, fo much efti- 
mated in Indoftan. The natives appro- 
priate gardens on purpofe fur the growth 
of the betel, and attend their culture with 
the utmolt care, guarding them from the 
heat of the fun, which at times is exce{- 
five. 
The medicinal virtues of eating pauns 
is to correct acidity and promete digef- 
tion ; for which purpofe they are confide- 
rably inferior to our own remedies, and 
confequently ean be of no ufe, could the 
ingredients be cultivated here, Tbe mode 
they 
