The plant begins to bear in the second year.
White pepper is not a natural production, but is obtained by dipping the black pepper several times in sea-water: this causes it to lose its colour, and become a dirty white.

The price of a pikul of white pepper is six dollars (24s.), whereas that of a pikul of black is only three dollars (12s.).
The greatest height attained by the gambir plant is eight feet.

The leaves alone are used in trade: they are first stripped off the stalk, and then boiled down in large coppers.

The thick juice is placed in wide wooden vessels, and dried in the sun; it is then cut into slips three inches long and packed up.

Gambir is an article that is very useful in dyeing, and hence is frequently exported to Europe.