Dongfang Shuo
Chinese records, specifically "Linyi Ji" by Dongfang Shuo associate the growing of areca palms with the first settlers of the Austronesian Champa polities in southern Vietnam at around 2,100 to 1,900 BP. This association is echoed in "Nanfang Cao Mu Zhuang" by Ji Han (c. 304 CE) who also describes its importance in Champa culture, specifically in the way Cham hosts traditionally offer it to guests. Betel chewing entered China through trade with Champa, borrowing the Proto-Malayo-Chamic name "*pinaŋ" resulting in Chinese "bin lang" for "areca nut", with the meaning of "honored guest", reflecting Chamic traditions. The same for the alternate term "bin men yao jian", literally meaning "guest [at the door] medicinal sweetmeat".