| 1853-4— 484 | cwt. | valued | at £199 4s. |
| 1864-5—1,364 | ” | ” | 698 8 |
| 1855-6—2,908 | ” | ” | 2,297 2 |
| part of 1856-7— 658 | ” | ” | 270 8 |
| —— | —— | ||
| Or in 3½ years—5,414 | ” | ” | £4,265 2 |
But this is only a small proportion of the catechu consumed in England alone, since in 1849 we imported 169,140 cwts. of that substance for tanning purposes, and the quantity has since increased.
The totals of cutch and gambier imported in
- 1856 was 8,536 tons.
- 1857 was 11,047 tons.
- 1858 was 11,205 tons.
- 1859 was 13,762 tons.
Of this quantity we exported in—
- 1856—1,031 tons.
- 1857—1,427 tons.
- 1858— 974 tons.
- 1859—1,809 tons.
These articles, therefore, make no insignificant item in our East Indian trade, which, valued at the intermediate rate of 15s. and 30s. per cwt., would amount to the sum of £153,375 in 1858.
[CHAPTER XX.]
CHEWING THE COON.
“It ascends me into the brain, dries me there all the foolish, and dull, and crudy vapours which environ it; makes it apprehensive, quick, forgetive, full of nimble, fiery, and delectable shapes, which, delivered over to the voice (the tongue), which is the birth, becomes excellent wit.”——Sir John Falstaff.