CXXXVII.
NUTMEG. Jādicāi (Tam.) Jáéphal (Hind.) Jātiphala (Sans.) Jáyaphala (Beng.) Jatipullum, also Sādikka (Cyng.) Jāphul (Duk.) Jouz bewá (Pers.) Jowzalteib (Arab.) Jāiphul (Hindooie) Buah-pala (Mal.) Woh-pala (Jav.) Bu-wah-pa (Bali) Jājikāia (Tel.) Gasori (Ternat.) Muskaat-noten (Dut.) Noz moscada (Port.) Noix muscade (Fr.) Muscatennusse (Ger.) Japhul (Mah.) Noce Moscada (It.) MYRISTICA MOSCHATA (Woodv.)
Cl. and Ord. Diœcia Monadelphia. Nat. Ord. Lauri (Juss.) Aechte Muscatennusse (Nom. Triv. Willd.)
Nutmeg, which is the kernel of the fruit of the myristica moschata, has a fragrant agreeable spicy odour, and warm aromatic taste and unctuous feel; it is considered by the natives of India as one of their most valuable medicines in dyspeptic complaints, and in all cases requiring cardiacs, and corroborants; they likewise prescribe it to such puny children as appear to suffer much in weaning. The nutmeg tree is a native of the Molucca islands, but is principally cultivated at Banda, and of late years at Batavia, Sumatra, and Penang. There is an inferior and long-shaped kind of nutmeg, common on Borneo, and an export from Passier* to India, and there is a wild sort (cāt jadicāi), frequently to be met with in some of the woods of Southern India, especially in Canara, which Dr. Buchanan thinks might be greatly improved by cultivation. The true nutmeg tree now grows to a tolerable size, in certain sheltered situations in the Tinnivelly district, especially at Courtalum, and bears pretty good fruit; it would also appear by Mr. Moon’s valuable Catalogue of Ceylon Plants, to grow in that fine island, and has got the Cyngalese name of sadikka. Three other species of myristica grow in that country.
* See Elmore’s Directory to the Trade of the Indian Seas, p. 51.
The names printed in Tamil, Devanagari and Arabic script beside their romanized forms are not transcribed. The rest of the article (from p. 250, on the cultivation of nutmegs in Sumatra onward) is not part of this section.