The ocean of story, being C.H. Tawney's translation of Somadeva's ...

APPENDIX II ROMANCE OF BETEL-CHEWING 263
leaves to be cold in the first degree, and drying in the second, it is
not so, for either his Booke is false printed, 1
for hee was deceived
[therein], for those leaves are hotte and drie in the end of the
second degree, as Garcius ab Horto himself hath found out, likewise
the taste and smell thereof doe affirme it to be so. This
Bettele is like a Citron leafe, but [somewhat] longer, sharpe at
the ende, having certain veines that runne along the leafe.
The
rypest are holden to bee the best, and are of colour yellow[ish],
although some women chuse the unripe, because they are pleasanter
2 in the chawing. The leaves doe wither by much handling.
The Bettele in Malacca, beareth a fruit like the tayle of an Efte,
which because it tasteth well, is eaten : it is planted like a Vine
upon stickes, as Hoppes 3 with us. Some for their greater
benefit Plant it among Pepper, and among Arecca, and thereof
doe make a pleasant Gallerie. This Bettele must be carefully
looked unto, and often watered. He that desireth to know more
hereof, let him reade the worthie commentaries of learned Clusios,
uppon the Chapter of Garcius 4'
touching Bettele.
" The Noblemen and Kinds, wheresoever they goe, stand
or sit, have alwaies a servant by them, with a Silver ketle
[in their hand] full of Bettele and their mixtures, and [when
they will eat] give them a leafe ready prepared. And when
any Ambassadour commeth to speak with the King, although
the King can understand them well, yet it is their manner
(to maintaine their estates) that the Ambassadour speaketh
unto them by an interpreter, [that standeth there] in presence,
which done, he answereth againe by the same interpreter.
In the meane time, the King lyeth on a bed, or else sitteth
on the ground, uppon a Carpet, and his servant standeth by
readie with the Bettele which he continually chaweth, and
spitteth out the Iuyce, and the remainder thereof, into a Silver
Basin ; standing by him, or else holden by some one of his
slaves or [his] wives, and this is a great honour to the Ambassadour,
specially if he profereth him of the same Bettele that
he himselfe doth eate. To conclude, it is their common use
to eate it, which because it is their dayly exercise, and that
they consume so much, 5 I have made ye longer discourse, the
1
2
Orig. Dutch: "translated."
Orig. Dutch: "they give more sound."
3
Orig. Dutch: "Clif" (ivy).
4 Annot. D. Paludani.
5 Dutch: "love it so much."
Orig.