Maranao betel box for sharing & comment

[Sajen]

This betel box will be coming soon in my collection, I think it's from Mindanao, Maranao people.
Copper or brass alloy with silver inlay, some of the silver inlay is missing.
9x16,5x5,8 cm.
Comments are welcome!

[Interested Party]

What were the little side compartments for?

Thanks
IP

[Sajen]

What were the little side compartments for?


Hello IP,

One is for chalk the other one for the nuts maybe!

Regards,
Detlef

[JeffS]

I really like these boxes, the thick gauge metal used makes them very heavy for their size.

[Interested Party]

Hello IP,

One is for chalk the other one for the nuts maybe!

Regards,
Detlef

So, the rt one is lime paste it looks like. I figured the big one is for nuts or nut slices. What would the third compartment be used for? Spices?

[Sajen]

So, the rt one is lime paste it looks like. I figured the big one is for nuts or nut slices. What would the third compartment be used for? Spices?

Yes possible, there are different ways to consume betel, in India for example it's chewed with spices or chewing tobacco. I don't know how it's used in the Philippines so it would be a pure guess for what is the third case.

Here a description from the net:
The most common method of using betel nut is to slice it into thin strips and roll it in a betel leaf with slaked lime (powder) or crushed seashells. This leaf package is known as a betel quid, betel nut chew, betel chew, betel pan or betel paan (India).

Regards,
Detlef