Gambier, GAMBIR, or PALE CATECHU, is an important article of commerce, used to a small extent medicinally as an astringent, but very largely in tanning and dyeing. It is an earthy-looking, light-brown substance, often in small cubes or in compact masses. It possesses no odour, but has a bitter, astringent taste, subsequently becoming sweetish. Under the microscope it is seen to consist of small acicular crystals. It is prepared in a very rude manner from the young leaves of the Uncaria Gambir, a native of the countries bordering the Straits of Malacca. As the plant, which grows to 8 or 10 feet, constantly produces young leaves, the manufacture is carried on throughout the year. The leaves are boiled in water, squeezed, and the decoction evaporated to a thick consistence, when it is poured into buckets, and treated in a curious manner. The workman takes a stick, which is moved up and down in the mass, and, as the gambier dries on it, it is scraped off and allowed to harden. It is asserted that stirring the mass does not produce an equally good article.
~ Gambier, JAMES, BARON, Admiral, was born in the Bahamas, 13th October 1756, entered the navy, and off Ushant fought with distinction as commander of the Defence under Lord Howe in 1794. As admiral he commanded the British fleet at the bombardment of Copenhagen in 1807, and was rewarded with a peerage. At the battle of Aix Roads in 1809 he refused to act on the advice of Lord Cochrane (see DUNDONALD), was tried by court-martial, and 'most honourably acquitted.' He attained the high rank of Admiral of the Fleet in 1836, and died 19th April 1833. The Memorials of him (1861) by Lady Chatterton has no value.