The Pandyan Kingdom from the Earliest Times to the Sixteenth Century c17.33
The Pāṇḍyan Kingdom from the Earliest Times to the Sixteenth Century c17.33
- Language
- English
c17.33
'All the people of this city (Cail), as well as of the rest of India, have a custom of perpetually keeping in the mouth a certain leaf called *Tembul*, to gratify a certain habit and desire they have, continually chewing it and spitting out the saliva that it excites. The Lords and gentlefolks and the King have these leaves prepared With camphor and other aromatic spices and also mixt with quicklime. And this practice was said to be very good for the health.’