314 
Gambler  of  Johorc. 
Am.  Joiir.  Pliarm. 
June,  18^-5. 
Joliore  would  be,  I  could  not  ;  but  I  know  that  many  thousands  of  pieuls 
(ISSg  lbs.)  of  both  are  sent  to  Singapore,  from  whence  it  is  shipped  to  all 
jmrts  of  the  world.  Singapore  is  separated  from  Johore  by  what  is  called 
the  'Old  Straits,'  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  wide,  and  Johore  being  so 
close  to  that  city  (Singapore),  the  imports  and  exports  may  not  be  kept 
separate,  which  may  account  for  your  not  seeing  the  exact  returns  in  blue- 
books  or  consular  reports,  though  I  am  inclined  to  think  they  are  kept,  but 
may  not  be  published  as  from  Johore.  *    Cube  gambler  is  the 
kind  most  generally  preferred  for  export,  and  can  be  procured  in  various 
qualities  according  to  i)rice,  that  is  either  pure  or  adulterated.^  Gambler 
for  chewing  is  made  in  disc  and  pipe  form.  The  latter  is  in  short  thin 
sticks  like  the  drawing  in  your  letter,  and  can  generally  be  got  pure  in 
either  the  Johore  or  Singapore  bazaars.  Gambler  is  also  made  in  cake  or 
mass,  and  it  is  worth  o-oo  dollars  per  picul  at  Singapore.  No.  1  cube  gam- 
bier,  G-85  dollars  and  No.  2  cube,  6"2)  dollars  i)er  picul." 
The  Johoi-e  gambler  of  the  Forestry  collection  is  of  five  kinds  :  three  of 
cul)e  form,  one  disc  shaped  and  the  other  oblong  { par aUelopiped gambler). 
One  of  tlie  cul)e  specimens  (which  ])r<)ved  to  be  the  best  of  its  kind)  is 
labeled  "(Tambitr,  Makaa,  for  eating."  The  oblong  variety  is  desij;nated 
'*  Gambier,  Pakn.''  The  disc-shaped  kind  is  stated  to  be  "first  quality,  for 
eating."  ^ 
The  following  details  regarding  the  sj)eL'imens  have  been  ascertained  : 
Ciibf,  (iamhier.  First  Qualiii/  ("MaUan"). — This  is  in  fairly  regular 
cubes,  average  measurement  20  <24  -  22  millimetres.  It  is  light,  the  average 
weight  being  8-47.")  grams  (heaviest,  8-78;  lightest,  8-08).  The  external 
color  is  cassia  l)rown  "marled"  with  a  darker  brown.  Appearance  of 
fusion  at  the  edges  is  slight,  fu^ed  parts  having  been  cut  off'.  Internally 
the  color  is  |)ale  cinnamon-brown.  The  mass  powdered  readily,  with  a 
crumbly  I'eeling  and  without  giittiness.  On  incineration,  3'9()  per  cent,  of 
ash  was  ot)tained,  and  by  LiAvcnthal's  process,  32  jjer  cent,  of  "tannin" 
(calculated  as  gallotannic  acid)  was  indicated. 
Second  Quatiti/. — In  badly  formed  irregular  cubes.  Average  measure- 
ment 26  25V  24  millimetres.  Average  weight  18'53  grams  (heaviest,  14-45  ; 
lightest,  1217  I.  Tlie  surlace  is  in  a  fused  state,  so  that  the  color  is  brown- 
black  ;  internally,  however,  it  is  cinnamon-brown.  Denser  and  harder 
than  lirst  quality,  hence  not  so  readily  reduced  to  powder.  It  yielded  4"48 
per  cent,  of  ash,  and  3i)  j^er  cent  of  "  tannin." 
Third,  Q^iality. — This  is  in  well  shaped  cubes,  but  surfaces  more  uneven 
than  first  quality.  The  cubes  are  slightly  smaller  than  first  quality. 
Average  25x2H    22  millimetres,  but  tbey  are  much  heavier,  the  average 
1"!  mean  'pure  or  adulterated'  commercially  speaking.  Gambier,  as  prepared  by 
tlie  Chinese,  can  never  be  absolutely  pure.  The  plant  grows  trailing  along  the  ground, 
and  unless  the  leaves  and  stems  which  are  cut  off  be  washed  before  being  put  into  the 
boiling  caldron,  the  extract  must  contain  more  or  less  earthy  matter.  Few  Chinese 
wash  the  leaves,  and  the  straining  ol"  Mie  decoction  is  of  the  roughest  description. 
Merchants  buying  gambier  have  a  rough  and  ready  method  of  judging  what  they  con- 
sider standard  quality  ;  below  that  quality  less  is  paid,  because  it  contains  earthy  mat- 
ter intentionally  added  to  make  it  weigh.— R.  J.'* 
^'''Makan,""  vernacular  for  '•  eati ng  or  chew) ng.  "    "Pakn,  "  a  nail. 
