Not being of so volatile a nature as the others he remained patiently with me for half an hour.
(*Footnote.

Although not understood at the time, he referred to an affray between two boats detached from the ship on surveying service and some Joannet Island canoes, which had occurred only a few hours before at the place indicated; of this we had not yet heard, but the news had reached Brierly Island, and occasioned our strange reception.

This is a remarkable instance of the rapidity with which intelligence may be conveyed from one island to another.) MODE OF USING THE BETEL.
He showed me the mode of using the betel, which, as practised by these people has this peculiarity, that the leaf of the siri or betel pepper is not employed, as is universally the case among the Malays.

A small portion of the green betelnut (the fruit of the Areca catechu) which here curiously enough is named ereka--is broken off with the teeth and placed in the mouth; then the spatula, formerly described, moistened with saliva, is dipped into a small calabash of lime in fine powder, with which the tongue and lips are smeared over by repeated applications.

The bolus is then kept in the mouth, and rolled over and over until it is thought requisite to renew it.