fracture, and is free from the admixture of foreign
bodies.

Most of the betel nuts imported into China come from Java, Singapore,
and Pinang. Betel nut is not so generally used in the South of China
as among the Southern Islands, and in the north of China it is a
luxury, as the pepper does not grow freely there. Formerly there was a
considerable trade in betel nuts with the Coromandel coast, from
whence the natives brought back manufactured goods and other
necessaries in return, but this has ceased for some time. The common
price was 20,000 for a dollar. These nuts are seldom imported into
England, though they might be of use as a dye in some manufactures.

The natives of the East chew the fruit of _Elate sylvestris_, (which
is something like a wild plum), in the same manner as the areca nut,
with the leaf of the betel pepper and quick lime.

The inner wood furnishes a kind of _Catechu_ or _Cutch_, which
contains much tannin and is a powerful astringent. It is obtained by
the simple process of boiling the heart of the wood for a few hours,
when it assumes the appearance and consistency of tar. It hardens by
cooling, and when formed into small squares and dried in the sun is
fit for the market.

The produce of Bombay is of uniform texture and of a dark red color.
That of Concan and other parts of India is of chocolate color, and
marked inside with red streaks.

The analysis of Sir H. Davy gave the following result:--

Bombay. Concan.
Tannin 54.5 48.5
Extractive 34.0 36.5
Mucilage 6.5 8.0
Insoluble matters, sand, lime, &c. 5.0 7.0
----- -----
100. 100.

Catechu is in extensive use in India for tanning purposes, and of late
years it has entirely superseded madder in the calico works of Europe
for dyeing a golden coffee-brown, one pound of catechu being found
equivalent to six pounds of madder.

Value of the areca nuts exported from Ceylon to the British Colonies
and foreign States in the years named:--

L.
1839 22,956
1840 23,096
1841 22,428
1842 29,222
1843 27,028
1844 20,978
1845 31,836
1846 34,209
1847 35,723
1848