Page 319

An. 1686

Betel and Arek, Durians, Tree and Fruit.

Every man in these parts carries his Lime box by his fide, and dipping his finger into it, spreads his Betel and Arek leaf with it. The Arek is a fmall Tree or Shrub, of a green Bark, and the Leaf is long and broader than a Willow. They are packt up to fell into parts that have them not, to chew with the Betel. The Betel-nut is most esteem'd when it is young, and before it grows hard, and then they cut it only in two pieces with the green husk or shell on it. It is then exceeding juicy, and therefore makes them spit much. It tastes rough in the mouth, and dies the Lips red, and makes the Teeth black, but it preserves them and cleanseth the Gums. It is also accounted very wholesom for the Stomach; but sometimes it will cause great giddi- ness in the head of those that are not use to chew it. But this is the effect only of the old Nut, for the young Nuts will not do it. I speak of my own experience.

This Island produceth also Durians and Jacks. The Trees that bear the Durians, are as big as Ap- ple Trees, full of Boughs. The Rind is thick and rough; the Fruit is fo large that they grow only about the Bodies, or on the Limbs near the Body, like the Cacao. The Fruit is about the bigness of a large Pumkin, covered with a thick green rough Rind. When it is ripe the Rind begins to turn yellow, but it is not fit to eat till it opens at the top. Then the Fruit in the inside is ripe, and sends forth an excellent scent. When the Rind is opened, the Fruit may be split into 4 quarters; each quarter hath several small cells; that inclose a certain quantity of the Fruit, according to the bigness of the cell, for some are larger than others. The largest of the Fruit may be as big as a Pullets Egg: 'Tis as white as Milk, and as soft as Cream, and the taste very delicious to those that are ac- customed to them; but those who have not been used