Series 03: Joseph Banks - Endeavour journal, 25 August 1768 - 12 July 1771 (vol. 2) - No. 0468
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[Page 468]
364.
Some account of Savu
acidity corrosive quality of the lime
[Margin note] lime
which is a necessary ingredient in every mouthfull & that too in no very insignificant quantity This opinion seems to me to be almost put out of dispute by the manner in which their teeth are destroyd which they are not loosned or drawn out as they should be be by the too frequent labour of chewing tough substances but melt away & decay as metals in strong acids the stumps always remaining firmly adhering to the jaws just level with the gums. possibly the ill effects which sugar is beleivd by us Europeans to have upon the teeth may proceed from the same cause as it is well known that refin'd or loaf sugar contains in it a large quantity of lime
To add flavour I suppose to the Betel & Arec some use with it a small quantity of tobacco adding the nauseous smell of that herb to the not less disagreable look of the other as if they were resolvd to make their mouths disgustfull to the sence of smelling as well as that of sight they also smoak rolling up a small quantity of tobacco in one end of a tube made of a palm leaf about as thick as a quil & 6 inches long of