PIPER NIGRUM. Linn. Black pepper vine. Filfil aswad, . . ARAB. Filfil gird, . .
3Iaricha, Gol-mirch,13m0, Pilpil, „ Nga-yok-koung, . Beau. Kolukung. March% Itors K. Piperi, . . Ga. of „ Kala-mirch, . . IIIND. I Gammiris, . . Sixon. Gol-mirch, „ Ilabarce, . . . SYRIAN.
Choca mirch, „ Molago valli, . . TAX. Lads, . . . . MALAY. Mirialu,Molum kodi, TaL. Molago-kodi, . . MALEAL.
A climbing plant, native of Malacca, Java, and Sumatra ; found wild among the hills of the Rajamundry district, but cultivated all along the Malabar coast, in Sumatra, Borneo, the Malay Peninsula, and all countries to the east of the Gulf of Siam. The best pepper comes from Malabar,the least esteemed from Java and Sumatra. The pepper vino is very common in the hilly districts of Travancore, especially in Cottayam, Meenachel, and Chenganacherry districts, where at an average calculation about 5000 undies are produced annually. Its cultivation is very simple, and is effected by cuttings or suckers put down before the commencement of the rains in June. The soil should be rich, but if too much moisture be allowed to accumulate near the roots, the young plants are apt to rot In three years the vine begins to bear. They are planted chiefly in hilly districts, but thrive well enough in the low country in the moist climate of Malabar. There they are usually planted at the base of trees which have rough or prickly bark, such as the jack, the erythrina, cashew nut, areca, and mango. They will climb about 20 or 30 feet, but are purposely kept lower than that, at 12 to 15 feet. During their growth it is requisite to remove all suckers, and the vine should be pruned, thinned, and kept clear of weeds. The berries are gathered before
they are perfectly ripe, and quickly dried on mats in the sun, by which they turn black. When plucked too young, they speedily fall into a stato of powder. Such are separated from the others by sieves and winnowing. In this condition it is termed black pepper. White pepper is the same fruit freed from the outer rind ; for this purpose the ripe berries are allowed to macerate in water, and the husk is removed. These are smaller, smooth, of a greyish- hite colour, varying to yellow, with a less powerful odour and taste than the black. The root is a tonic and cordial. Both Piper nigrum and Piper longurn grow wild in considerable quantities in the hilly tracts of Goodern, and probably along the whole of the extensive range of the Eastern Ghats. The latter finds its way in small quantities down to the bazars on the coast, but the black pepper is entirely neglected, and does not appear to be gathered even for local use.. Black pepperand long pepper appear to have been used as febrifuges in the east from the earliest periods. The powder and the root of long pepper have been much employed in Hindu medicine. The root is said to be bitter and dry ; it is a stimulant tonic, is employed for coughs and indigestion, also fever. The black pepper from the forests of Malabar and Travancore for centuries has been an article of exportation to European countries.—Roxb.; Ainslie ; Eng. Cyc.; M. C. C. Ind. Ann. Med. Science ; Powell.