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Show 1 PAPERMAKIN IN INDO-CHIN assumed a rich ebony that lends a grotesque appearanc to the smiles of all betel-nut users. The habit of chewin the nuts of the pinnate-leaved betel palm (Areca cathecu mixed with the ovate leaves of the betel (Piper betle) an shell lime is prevalent among men, women, and childre of Indo-China, India, Burma, and Siam, and althoug the juice of the nut gives a brilliant red hue to the saliva the habit stains the teeth an alluring black that is not displeasing. The chewing of betel-nut with its astringen taste, apparently assists in the prevention of tooth decay or perhaps it only conceals the putrefadtion. The papermakers of Siam use a pigment rendered from the burn shells of the betel-nut for imparting a dull black coatin to their calligraphic papers which are inscribed in yello and used for ceremonial purposes in Siamese temples L asked the steward as to the duration of our journey He replied with a broad grin that displayed his jet-blac teeth, which, in contrast to his brilliant red tongue an lips, made an incongruous appearance, reminding me o a fiery Chinese "gate-god," one of the gaudily-coloure posters thatare placed at the entrances to Chinese home to frighten impish spirits. The hospitable, but somewha malevolent-appearing steward could not speak tome; h spoke only his native Tonkinese, but by travelling hi lean finger around and around the dial of my watch h graphically conveyed that I would be aboard the slowmoving craft for a number of days and nights There was one other voyager in the confined quarter Digital mage© 2005 Marriott Library University of Utah, All rihts reserved |