VARIETIES. 
377 
the vigor of the trees from which they have derived their nourishment. 
After being dried, the insects are separated from the leaves and other 
foreign matters vrith which they were mixed, and packed in small casks, 
in which they are transmitted to Marseilles, Malta, &c. The principal 
consumption of them is in the East, where they constitute the principal 
material used for coloring the red head-dresses used by the men in these 
countries. In order to increase the weight of the insects, they are some- 
times sprinkled with red lead, which fills up any cavities, and red sandal- 
wood, and pea-flour, covered with a decoction of the insect, are also used 
for the same purpose. I have been assured by dealers in the article, that 
three or four per cent, of such adulterations may be added without their 
being easily detected. The insects collected in the above-named localities, 
are considered to be of better quality than those obtained from any other 
parts. About 40,000 pounds weight of them are annually collected in 
Greece. Those of the best quality sell at from 20 to 30 drachmas per pound. 
There is an inferior quality, which is sometimes exported in powder, but 
as this is more or less adulterated, there is little demand for it. This 
rarely finds its way into European commerce, but is generally sent to 
Tunis, where it is used with madder for dyeing the red turbans or head- 
dresses, of which great quantities are sent from Tunis to all parts of the 
East, and it is said that the color produced at Tunis is more durable than 
that produced by the Greeks. I have only to add, with regard to the 
medicinal use of these insects, that they are employed as a remedy for 
different diseases, especially scarlatina, and that they are administered 
in the form of infusion and of electuary. — London Pharm. Jouni., June 
1, 1852. 
On Ga?nbir. By Berthold Seehanx. — Black pepper {Piper nigrum, 
Linn.) and Gambir (Uncaria Gambir, Roxb.) are grown in great quanti- 
ties in Singapore, and exclusively by the Chinese, for both these articles 
are so exceedingly cheap that Europeans have not deemed it worth their 
while to engage in the speculation. Pepper and Gambir plantations are 
always combined, because the refuse of the Gambir-leaves serve as 
an excellent manure for the pepper; and moreover, what is of equal, 
if not of still greater importance, kills the Lalang (Andropogon caricosus, 
Linn.) a plant which, like the couch-grass (Tiiticum repens, Linn.) spreads 
with astonishing rapidity over the fields, growing so close together and so 
high, that within a short space of time valuable plantations are rendered 
useless, and many have to be given up from the utter impossibility of free- 
ing the ground from this weed. 
The process by which Gambir is extracted and prepared is simple. 
The leaves are boiled in water until all their astringent property is ex- 
tracted. The decoction is then poured into another vessel, in which it be- 
comes inspissated, and, when nearly dry, is cut into small square pieces, 
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