A TREATISE ON TEA. (continued 2)

I now proceed to consider the peculiar Virtues commonly supposed to reside in Tea, but which I assert are equally to be found in European Plants; for the Chinese are guilty of a fulsome Exaggeration, when they assert that it has a Tendency to prolong Life. The Virtues, then, of the Tea, seem to be most accurately described by Rhodius and Martinius, who seem to have reduced them to three Heads; the first of which, according to Rhodius, is, that it alleviates Pains of the Head, and represses Vapours: The second, that it corroborates the Stomach: And, the third, that it expels the Stone and Gravel from the Kidneys. These Virtues are, by Martinius, recited in the following Order: To the drinking of this warm Liquor, it is said to be owing, that the Chinese are Strangers to the Gout and Stone. When drank after Meals, it removes Crudities and Indigestion. When exhibited to drunken Persons, it affords them Relief, and prevents the bad Consequences of Surfeits; for it is of a drying Nature, carries off superfluous Humours, expels somniferous Vapours, and removes the languid State of Students, who are oppressed by long Application. These Virtues are, at present, to be carefully examined. I shall not here speak of those Qualities, which are the Result of its Temperature; since I before evinced, that the whole Substance of the Tea was grateful to the Brain; but at the same time shewed, from a singular Observation, that Betony was possessed of the same Virtues and Qualities.

First, then, it is asserted of Tea, that it removes the bad Consequences of Surfeits, because it is of a drying Nature, and carries off superfluous Humours: The same Effects are also produced by Betony: But as for the Expulsion of somniferous Vapours, and removing the languid State of hard Students; these Properties are more frequently ascribed to the true Myrtle, than to Betony; which, however, as we shall afterwards shew, is also recommended against Intoxication.

The second Virtue of Tea macerated in warm Water, is, that it corroborates the Stomach; which Effect is also remarkably produced by Betony.

The third Virtue it is said to be possessed of, is, that it frees the Kidneys from Stones and Gravel; for which Reason, according to Martinius, the Chinese are Strangers to nephritic and arthritic Disorders. Betony remarkably produces this Effect, and, at the same time, is a powerful Preservative against the Gout. The other Qualities of Tea, enumerated by other Authors: I shall not here mention, that I may, at more Length, compare it with Betony. The Reader may, however, consult my Quadripartitium, and Antonius Musa, who, in Libell. de Betonica, affirms, that Betony is possessed of so excellent medicinal Virtues, that it cures no less than forty-seven Disorders; which none of the Chinese have ever dared to assert, concerning their Tea: The Asiatic Tea is, therefore, far inferior to the European Betony. The same Author affirms, "That Betony, previously taken, prevents Intoxication." By which Words, Musa insinuates, that it guards against a Surfeit, and, consequently, frees us from Drowsiness; so that the whole Substance of it is equally grateful and refreshing to the Brain with Tea. It were to be wished, that this Physician had directed the Method of preparing Betony, in order to prevent Intoxication; by which Means the Europeans would, in all Probability, have been encouraged to greater Care and Diligence in cultivating, drying, and separating the small from the large Leaves of our Chamelæagnus, a Decoction of whose Flowers would have been as grateful to them as that of the Chinese Tea is to them. But if any should foolishly dread the Use of the Chamelæagnus, which, however, is much used, and greatly extolled in Denmark, and the Lower Saxony; such Persons may, I think, substitute Betony in its Room. But, if a Physician should order an European Cobler, or Day-Labourer, frequently to use a Decoction of Betony, they would sneeringly bid him use his insipid Water himself. But the Custom of drinking Tea only prevails, because it is a new Thing, unknown to the Forefathers of the Chinese, and is imported from Asia into Europe, whose Inhabitants of all Ranks are so excessively fond of it, on account of its grateful Bitter, and sub-astringent Taste: The same may be said of the Indian Chocolate, and the Water impregnated with the Chavva of the Persians, since these three Liquors have generally no more grateful a Taste, than a Decoction of coarse European Pears, or what the Germans call a Pear-souse.

But, as Antonius Colmeri de Lodesma has given a distinct Account of Chocolate, and the Method of preparing it, the Reader may expect that I should say something of the Use and Method of preparing the Water of Chavva; and this I shall the more willingly do, because no Physician, or Botanist, so far as I know, has expresly, but only accidentally, and imperfectly, given the History of the Chavva. But I would advise Physicians to order the Use, not only of Chocolate, but also of the Chavva, very sparingly; though both Liquors are highly commended by the high and learned, as well as the low and illiterate Part of Mankind: For Hieronymus Benzo, who, according to Dalechampius, Lib. 18. Histor. General. Plant. calls it, "A Wash rather fit for Hogs, than a Liquor proper for human Creatures." Benzo, after residing above an Year in the Province of Nicariquan, in America, had, all the while, a mortal Aversion to this Liquor; till, falling short of Wine, he learned to imitate the Natives, that he might not be under a Necessity of drinking Water perpetually. This Liquor, by its somewhat bitter Taste, refreshes and refrigerates the Body, without intoxicating those who use it. This is the principal and dearest Commodity of those Countries; nor do the Indians, who use it, esteem any thing more highly, according to Clusius, Lib. 2. Exot. Cap. 29. and Anonym. Auctar. in Dodon. I must own I should, with Benzo, have preferred pure Water to this unnatural Mixture, which, as well as Coffee, and Tea, the Europeans may very well want, without any Loss of Health: And it were to be wished, that the excessive Demands for all these, did not excite People of sordid Tempers, to adulterate them, with Substances of heterogeneous Parts, and such as are unfriendly to Nature. This, as I have before mentioned, with respect to Tobacco, is the Reason why, in our Age, we are seized with Disorders, the Names of which are not so much as mentioned in the Writings of the Antients. Hence Bartholin thinks, "That Aromatics and Spices, which are no less the Causes of Wars in Europe, than of Commotions in the Body, ought to be prohibited; since the Purposes of Life and Health will be far better answered, by cleansing the Blood now and then with the Leaves of the Coluthea, Water-Cresses, or Fumitory. We are also to chuse an Antidote for common Use; but not the Theriaca, of which the Emperor Antoninus took the Bulk of a Bean every Morning, nor the Mithridate; for these are injurious by their Heat, and consequently improper for us. But we are to use Conserve of Roses, Rob. of Elder, Electuaries of Marygolds, the Morus Norvegica, and other indigenous Plants, whose Qualities are best suited to our Temperaments and Constitutions." But the Use of the Herb Tea, if it could be brought fresh and recent from China into Europe, would be more tolerable than that of Chocolate, and Coffee, which is of all others the worst: Since a Decoction of the Chavva surprizingly effeminates both the Minds and Bodies of the Persians; by imitating whom, we shall never arrive at that Vigour and Hardiness, which Julius Cæsar, and Cornelius Tacitus, so much admired in our Forefathers.

We have before observed, that Amurath, the fourth Emperor of the Turks, under Pain of Death, totally prohibited the Use of Tobacco, lest his Subjects should become barren. But we Europeans heedlesly go on by the Abuse of Coffee, to emasculate ourselves like the Persians, who are fond of Sterility, and, according to Olearius, much more salacious than the Europeans; But of this Effect of Coffee we shall afterwards treat.

As the Fruit of the Cacao, or Cacarate, which resemble Almonds, are the Basis of Chocolate, they are found engraved in Tabernemontan. Lib. 3. Cap. 16. So that I shall here give no Cuts of them, since I have done that in Quadripartit. Botan. Class. 3. No. 11, 12. when, describing the Seed Bon, or Ban, which is also called Buna, or Buncho, and Bunea, or the Seed from which is prepared the Coava, Caova, Cavve, Choava, and Cahvve, which, by a Corruption, is, no doubt, the Coffee of the Europeans.

If it should be asked, to what Class of Simples, whether that of Herbs, or Trees, we are to refer the Plant which bears the Seed Bon, from which the Water of Chavve is prepared, and which is also mentioned by Olearius, in Itinerar. Persiæ, Cap. 17. I answer, that some, ignorant of Botany, may take it for an Herb, whose Seeds resemble those of the Turkish Corn, or the Indian Corn, by Bauhine called Mays, or for our Wheat: Whereas, it is no Herb, but a Tree, by Olearius, in the last quoted Passage, described in the following Manner: "The Persians, in smoaking Tobacco, have always the black Water of Chavve present. The Fruit with which they prepare this Liquor is sent from Egypt; and, in the inner Side, resembles the Turkish, though on the outer Side, the European Wheat. This Fruit is of the Bigness of a Turkey Bean, and the Shrub bears a white Flower. The Fruit, or Berries, they burn, or roast, in a dry Pan; after which they grind them, and boil them in Water, which they drink, and which has a Kind of hot, unpleasant Taste. It is esteemed a great Cooler; for which Reason it is drank by most; but if it is used to Excess, it extinguishes the Inclination to Venery, and induces Sterility." The Seed Bon, or Ban, is collected from a Tree bearing its own Name, if we may believe Prosper Alpinus, Lib. de Plant. Egypt. Cap. 16. This Author, after residing some Years in Egypt, saw the Bhon-Tree in the Green-House of Hali Bei, the Turk. An intire Description and Cut of this Tree is also to be found in Tom. 1. Lib. 4. Histor. Plantar. Univers. Cap. 5. Since, therefore, Alpinus compares this Tree to our Euonymus, and says, that the former resembles the latter: Hence Caspar Bauhine, in his Pinax, places it among the Species of Euonymus, and calls it the Egyptian Bon, like the Euonymus, with a Fruit like Bay-Berries, from whose Seeds the Egyptians make their Liquor, called Coava. Though this Fruit, with respect to Figure, Bark, and Colour, is highly similar to Bay-Berries, yet it is far less in Bulk. In my Opinion, it most resembles the Seeds of the admirable Peruvian Tree, Decoctions of which, are used by the Eastern Nations, the Egyptians, Turks, and Persians, for corroborating a cold Stomach, assisting Concoction, and removing Obstructions of the Viscera. They also, with Success, use this Decoction for many Days against old Obstructions, and cold Tumors of the Liver and Spleen. This Decoction, according to Alpinus, seems also appropriated to the Uterus, which it warms, and frees from Obstructions: Thus, the Egyptian and Arabian Women, for the due Evacuation of their Menses, use this Decoction for several Days after they commence. Hence, according to Olearius, the Persians are not afraid, lest the Decoction of Cavve render them cold; unless we should also say, that Agnus Castus which induces Sterility, is also of a cold Temperature: But this Doubt will be cleared by-and-by. It were to be wished, that the celebrated Johannes Weslingius, who also travelled into Egypt, had had an Opportunity of seeing this Tree; since he would have given us a more accurate Description of it, than we have hitherto got; for, in Commentar. in Prosper. Alpin. he tells us, that the Fruit of this Tree is brought from Jamin, or Arabia Felix into Egypt; and, that a Decoction of it is sold in some Thousands of Taverns at Memphis. Prosper. Alpinus also, in Lib. de Medicina Egyptor. Lib. 4. Cap. 3. when treating of the Decoctions used by the Egyptians, whether sick, or in Health, tells us, that, in a particular Manner, they make use of the Decoction called Choava, prepared with the Coats or Husk of the Seeds called Bon. Then he describes the Preparation of Bon, by telling us, that it smells like Corn, Rye, Barley, or Pease, when thrown upon live Coals, and burned a little. Alpinus, however, endeavors to evince, that the Seeds of Bon consist of two Substances, the one thick and earthy, by which they brace up and corroborate, and the other thin and subtile, by which they heat, absterge, and remove Obstructions. That they are highly drying is certain, but I cannot for this Reason comprehend why Prosper Alpinus asserts, that Cold prevails moderately in them; for they act by their whole Substance, both by their Salt and both Kinds of Sulphur: So that it is highly probable they produce these Effects, on account of their ungrateful Taste and Smell. But it is said these Seeds are corrected with Sugar. Thus Weslingius informs us, "that some correct the Bitterness of this Decoction with Sugar, and preserve the whole Kernel of the Fruit incrustated with Sugar. Nor is this only customary in Egypt, but also through all the Provinces of Persia. This renders the Seeds Bon not only dear, but scarce, in Europe." Though Weslingius thinks that these Seeds are useful to the Europeans, yet I am of a different Opinion; for, in like Manner, the Europeans have resolved to sweeten, not only their Coffee, but also their Chocolate and Tea, without having any View to prevent Disorders, or recover Health; but only to follow the Customs of the Asiatics, and indulge themselves in a Liquor, whose Taste is pleasant to them.

If it should be said, that Tulpius informs us, that the Chinese dissolve a few Grains of Salt, or Sugar, in their Infusions of Tea, I answer, we here enquire not what is done, but what ought to be done; not what is palatable, but what is conducive to preserve Health, and restore it when lost. Though I do not altogether disapprove of Salt in Tea, yet I absolutely condemn Sugar. How ill the Europeans, especially those of the Northern Countries, consult their Health, by mixing their Mustard, and their Sauces of Vinegar, and Horse-Radish, designed as a Preservative against the Scurvy, with Sugar, I have already shewn, in Class. 3. Quadripartit. Botan. For the same Reason, Sugar, mixed with an Infusion of Tea, infringes and impairs its Virtues; so that, by this means, we drink, not a medicated Water, but little more only than simple European Water, edulcorated with Sugar. This, no doubt, is an excellent Remedy against Intoxication; but certainly if we read both antient and modern Authors, we shall find, that Drunkenness may be removed by drinking cold Water. Besides, an Intoxication, next to Madness, may be greatly alleviated by wrapping up the Scrotum in Cloths dipped in cold Water. Hence we have but little Reason to bring Tea from China, Tartary, and Japan, at an extravagant Price, which might be far better laid out, in relieving poor indigent Families at Home. But the present Europeans are vastly different from what they were before the Asiatic Effeminacy was known among us. The Europeans might, perhaps, be indulged in the perpetual Use of Tea, provided their Regimen was the same with that of the Asiatics. Now, Regimen includes all the five Non-Naturals, which are Air, Meat and Drink, Excretion and Retention, Motion and Rest, Sleep and Watching, and the Passions of the Mind. Now, all these, in Europe, are vastly different from what they are in the Indies, as is obvious from the faithful and impartial Accounts, given us by Martinius, and Mandelslo. This Subject is excellently handled by Hippocrates, in Tr. de Aere, Aquis, & Locis, who joins these three together, with great Judgment, and for very sufficient Reasons; since each of the three has Atoms, in a manner, peculiar to itself, which it continually sends forth, and diffuses even to a great Distance: So that some Bodies, according to Bartholine, may, by means of the Atoms they emit, propagate the Sphere of their sympathetic Actions, to the Distance of a Thousand Miles. About the Equinoxes, and Solstices, the sudden Changes of the State of the Atmosphere, and the Variety of Vapours exhaled from the Earth, produce surprizing Alterations in Health. And these Exhalations rise sometimes in such large Quantities, as to be condensed, and by their own Weight to fall down, in the Form of sulphureous Showers: A memorable Instance of this we had in Norway, where, on May 19, 1665, a violent Tempest, accompanied with uncommon Thunder, and thick Clouds, broke out: During this Storm, there fell from the Clouds, a Substance, highly similar to Sulphur, which not only floated on the Water, but also seemed to cover the Earth. When Stobæus subjected this Matter to an Examination, he found, after drying, and passing it through a Sieve, that when it was become moderately warm, on an heated Tile, it emitted a fetid Smoak of the same Colour with that of the Spirit of Nitre, in Distillation. But this Matter could not be fused by the strongest Fire; by which Means, however, it became inodorous, and like small Sand, though before it resembled a fetid, coarse Sulphur, reduced to Powder. The same Author, in his Letters also, informs me, that, when about as much of the recent Matter, as would lie on the Point of a Knife, was laid upon a red hot Tile, it was spontaneously kindled, made a Kind of Noise, and emitted a reddish fetid Smoak. Next Day Stobæus endeavoured to sublime this crude and sulphureous Matter, by itself, without any Addition, in order to discover, whether Flowers of Sulphur could be obtained from it; but his Labour was in vain; for though the Matter became red hot by due Degrees of Fire, yet no Flowers appeared; only the first Steam, which, in the Alembic, appeared reddish, in the Water, assumed a dark ferruginous Colour: Then, by augmenting the Fire, a whitish Spirit appeared, which gave a similar Colour to the Water. This Steam and Spirit appeared in Distillation to be of an acrid Taste; so that Stobæus justly concluded them to contain a volatile Salt, of a particular Kind. The same Author informs me, in his Letter, that the Rain which fell, during the Thunder, smelled of Sulphur: And from this Observation, he thinks, the Chemists Doctrine, concerning the Generation of Thunder, may be confirmed. As every Substance does not act upon every other Substance, nor sulphureous Things on those of the same Nature, he put this Matter into Spirit of Turpentine, and digested it by a gentle Fire; by which Means, it gave the Liquor a a yellowish Colour, and a Smell, very like that of Balsam of Sulphur: But of these I shall not treat at greater Length, since I am perswaded that Miracles have ceased, and that Providence disposes of second Causes according to wise and stated Laws. Hence it is, that about the Vernal and Autumnal Equinoxes, or Solstices, all Sorts of Diseases, and especially those of the endemial or epidemical Kind, rage; such as the Scurvy, Measles, and Small-Pox, as also the Plague, though often these Disorders are confined to one City. A memorable Instance of this, we have in the Cities of Hambourg and Amsterdam, which, in 1663, and 1664, were afflicted with a Pestilence, which, however, did not spread itself to Denmark, Sweden, Britain, France, and Germany. But, as the Plague is imported from Africa, it is probable, that the Salubrity of the Atmosphere, in those Countries which escaped, checked the sulphureous, saline, and pestilential Atoms, which first contaminated the Air of Amsterdam, and then that of Hambourg. But all Countries differ so widely, with respect to Air, Water, and Situation, that none of them, even the most contiguous, are exactly alike, and conspire in producing the same Effects. Thus, among the German Wines, the Rhenish is the best; though it also differs in Goodness, according to the particular Parts in which it is produced. The like holds in the French Wine, the worst of which is reckoned that of Orleans; for which Reason, Quercean, in his Diæticum, Cap. 6. tells us, "That in the Oeconomy of the King of France's House, it is enacted, by a domestic Law, that the Steward shall give the King no Orleans Wines;" which, however, has a very grateful Taste. The same holds, not only in Ales, but also in other Things: Thus, the Noremberg Cakes, on account of the peculiar Qualities of the Water with which the Meal and Aromatics are made up, are far better, and more pleasant to the Taste, than those prepared in the same Manner, in any Part of Europe. This is what the Philosophers have been at so much Pains to account for. The Air, Water, and Situation, also constitute the Reason, why Tea in Europe does not produce the same Effects it does among the Asiatics, especially the Chinese. Many Persons of Rank and Distinction have informed me, that they could never be sensible of the so-much-extolled Virtues of Tea, nor perceive that it prevented Sleep, or rendered them more brisk, and fit for Business. One or two Persons, however, subject to Catarrhs, have confessed to me, that they have become far better by the long Use of Tea. Thus, I have heard, that a certain Ambassador to the Dutch, who before laboured under a Difficulty of Hearing, had his Disorder totally removed, by the large Quantities of Tea he drank at the Hague. I, myself, have found Tea to be diuretic. I own, two or three Persons who have travelled, not only through Europe, but also through the East Indies, have affirmed to me, that in Japan, the drinking of Tea infallibly removes Intoxication, and prevents Sleep; but this Effect is not at all produced by it in Europe. Thus, I have been informed, that Strangers, upon their Arrival in Muscovy, can drink such large Quantities of Brandy, as would put an End to their Lives in other Countries. Thus, it may happen, that the Chinese, or Japonese Tea, with the Assistance and Concurrence of other Things, may produce a particular Effect, which Tea will not do in Europe. But all these Effects are produced by Betony, an Herb universally known in Europe: Thus, it is certain, that our Chamelæagnus is the Tea of the Chinese, or Japonese. But to illustrate my Subject the better, I shall make a few Remarks on the peculiar Genius, Regimen, and Method of living used among the Indians and Chinese. The Indians then are fond of moistening Aliments, which guard against the Heat of the Sun; such as Cherries, Fruits of all Kinds, Pot-Herbs, Fishes, Oysters, Crabs: Besides, Michael Boym, a learned Jesuit, in his Flora Sinensis, mentions various Fruits which are not produced in Europe; whereas Nature has furnished the Chinese with others, either like to, or exactly the same with, those of the Europeans. The former of these, and the other similar Delicacies of the East Indies, do, in all Probability, give rise to new Diseases in Europe. This Jesuit speaks of China in the following Manner: "The Kingdom of China is, as it were, a Compound of the whole Globe, or rather, a Gem, in which more Riches are to be found than in all the rest of the World besides. In the Southerly Parts of the Country, the Heats are most intense, and produce large Quantities of all the Indian Fruits, such as Dates, Mangas, Ananas, and others: Whereas the Northern Parts produce Figs, Chesnuts, Nuts of all Kinds, Peaches, Apricots, and Pears of various Kinds." Thus provident Nature has furnished the Southermost Parts of China with Fruits intirely unknown to the Europeans; whereas, the Northern Parts produce such as are known in Europe, and suited to its Soil and Climate: Since, in the former, the Heats are very intense, but not so in the latter. Thus Nature seems to have prohibited us the Use of the former of these Fruits, by placing us at such a Distance from them, and to have indulged us in the Use of the latter, by placing us so near them; for the Precept, of sometimes using Things to which we are not habituated, does not hold in this Case: Since, being Europeans, we ought to use the Regimen, Aliments, and Drinks, peculiar to Europe; for it is no less generally than justly observed, that the natural Produce of any Country is best suited to the Constitution of its Inhabitants. Thus Tea seems by Nature adapted to the Inhabitants of China, Coffee to those of Persia, Chocolate to those of America, and Ale and Wine to those of the different Parts of Europe. Thus the antient Inhabitants of Saxony and Megapolis, before they became fond of foreign Delicacies, used to say proverbially, Drink Wine, and reap Benefit from it; drink Ale, and become fat; drink Water, and die. It is also certain, that in former Times, the Inhabitants of Iceland and Norway, when they used a simple Regimen, and were Strangers to foreign Luxury, enjoyed good Health to an incredible Age; whereas, their Posterity are not only weaker, but hardly live beyond the thirtieth, fortieth, or fiftieth Year of their Age: So that the Lyric Poet seems to have made a just Prophecy of our own Generation, in the following Lines:

Europeans then must have their Constitutions impaired, and their Strength exhausted, by living like the Inhabitants of Asia, Africa, and America; especially since Macrobius, in Lib. 7, Saturnal. Cap. 4. shews, that the most simple Aliments are the most salutary, and easily digested. Besides, Socrates ordered his Pupils to abstain from such Meats and Drinks as created an Appetite after Hunger and Thirst were satisfied. But, according to the Chinese, Tea produces an Appetite after Hunger and Thirst are satisfied; therefore the drinking of it is to be abstained from. The same holds true with respect to Chocolate, and Coffee. But I return to the Chinese, who are accustomed to Water-drinking, and a frugal Life. Hence, their Physicians, whom Martinius, in the Preface of his Atlas Sinicus, seems to prefer to those of Europe, no doubt, enjoin them the Use of Tea, in order to prevent the Generation of excrementitious Humours; or, when generated, to carry them off by Stool, or Urine; for, it is certain, from what has hitherto been said, that Tea is moderately heating, bitter, drying, and astringent. If it should, for these Reasons, be said, that Tea is justly to be commended for a Weakness of the Stomach, I answer with Celsus, in Lib. 1. Cap. 8. "Our Countrymen ought not to be believed, who, when indisposed, covet Wine, or Water, and instead of charging their own Luxury, lay the Fault on the Stomach, which has no Share in it." This Passage is equally applicable to Tea, Coffee, and Chocolate, and seems to insinuate, that such Persons, in order to satiate their Thirst, falsly accuse their Stomachs. If this were more carefully adverted to by the Patrons of the Chinese Delicacies, and especially those who look upon Tea as a Panacea, they would use it more sparingly, especially in a bad State of Health; because Celsus, in Chap. 3. of the same Book, tells us, "That Changes ought to be gradually and slowly made; since that to which the Patient is not accustomed, proves, hurtful, whether it be soft, or hard".

But the Chinese Method of using Tea, is not agreeable to the Custom of the Europeans, and therefore hurtful to them.

Hence the Germans, Saxons, and Inhabitants of other Nations, in the Baltick Sea, being neither accustomed to much Wine, nor to dilute it with Water, are generally seized with malignant Fevers, when they go into France, or Italy; because every fixed Substance fixes such as is volatile; whereas, such as is volatile, resolves that which is fixed. Hence the thick and fœculent Blood of the Germans, consisting of saline, sulphureous, fixed, and volatile Parts, and being changed by the Regimen of France, and the Heat of the Sun, is subtilized by the Tartar and Sulphur of the French Wine, especially in such Germans as took great Care of their Health, when in their own Country; and in those who enjoyed good Health, their Blood is not only subtilized, but also ferments, undergoes an Ebullition, and is despumated. Hence arise Spots of different Colours, produced by the Blood variously corrupted. But these I have considered more fully in my Digressio de Febribus Malignis. This Doctrine is warmly inculcated by Hippocrates, who, in Lib. de Fract. Senectut. §. 6. tells us, "That the Age and Constitution of one Person, differ widely from those of another." But this Assertion, how true soever, is but little adverted to by most of the Europeans. But I think it incumbent upon me, for the Reasons now alledged, to warn them against the Abuse of Tea; especially since we find, that this Herb does, by no means, answer the Encomiums bestowed upon it by the Chinese and Japonese. I own Tea is of a more drying Quality than many European Herbs; but, for this very Reason, the constant Use of it is so far from procuring Longevity, especially in Persons of a middling Age, that it rather accelerates old Age; which, according to Macrobius, in Lib. 7. Saturn. Cap. 11. is, "an Exhaustion and Dissipation of the vital Liquor, by Length of Time; for old Age is dry, for Want of natural Moisture, and sometimes moist through a Redundance of peccant Humours, produced by Coldness of Constitution." Since then Tea, by Means of the Sulphur it contains, is of a more heating and drying Nature than Ginger, Cinnamon, Pepper, Cubebs, Cardamomis, or Arabian Castus; hence, it necessarily follows, that it is injurious to old Persons, and such as are of a dry Constitution, and loose Texture of the solid Parts. On account of this dry Constitution, and natural Marasmus of old People, which no Art can prevent, they become thirsty, and more addicted to tippling, than in their younger Years: Hence arises the German Proverb, If a young Man knew the Pleasure of drinking in old Age, he would be saving in his younger Years.

It is not, therefore, the native Heat, but that fatal Dryness which renders the Members cold, and the Skin corrugated, which renders old Persons fond of drinking; and for this Reason, I have, in my Commentaries, universally commended a moistening Diet for them. Hence, the Inhabitants of those Nations, who, besides Tea, daily drink Wine, ought carefully to guard against all sudden Changes in Diet and Regimen. Thus, when a certain celebrated French Physician, endeavoured to perswade a Person of eminent Rank, who was, generally, twice or thrice a Year seized with a Catarrh, to change his Regimen, and give over the Use of Wine, or, at least, dilute it with Water; because, in all Probability, the Physician told him, that cold Water powerfully corrected acrid Humours. Upon this, the Person of Distinction asked the Physician, whether he was in good Health? To whom the Physician replied he was: Then, says he, continue to drink Water, or Wine and Water, till you can drink no more; but you shall never, on account of slight Catarrhs, which are rarely offensive to me, perswade me to accept of a French, or Italian Regimen, instead of a Danish, and German: Nor will I drink Water instead of Wine, or Ale. I am at present full of Flesh and Blood, and enjoy a good Appetite: My Forefathers, for many Years back, were of the like Constitution, and used the same Regimen I do; but if, in the sixtieth Year of my Age, I should begin to drink Water, I am afraid I should rather resemble you than them; for you, who are a Water-drinker, though you enjoy good Health, yet you are emaciated, have a cadaverous Countenance, and seem to be rather a Skeleton than a living Person. I wish all Persons, especially such as are old, would follow the Example of this Gentleman, and obstinately reject Tea, which so dries the Bodies of the Chinese, that they can hardly spit. It is also an egregious Mistake, not only among the Persians, but also among most other Nations, to think that the Seed Bon, or Ban, which when toasted is called Coffee, and which I have taken Care to have engraved in the Plate after the History of Scurvy-Grass, No. 11, 12. of my Quadripartitium, is of so cooling a Quality, as to produce Impotence, even in those who use it frequently; for it only dries them. Thus Casmin, the Wife of Sultan Mahmud, after her Husband had so weakened himself by the Use of Coffee, that he had been impotent for many Years, is said, when she saw the Preparations making, for gelding a generous Persian Steed, to have told the Persons employed in that Work, that there was no Occasion for so much Trouble, since, by giving the Horse Coffee, he would become like her Husband, the King. This Story is, with the same Circumstances, related by Olearius, in his Travels through Muscovy and Persia. Coffee, then produces Sterility in the Persians, not because it is cold, but because it gradually dries their Bodies, by means of a certain Sulphur, as peculiar to itself, as those of Opium, Tobacco, or Agnus Castus are to them. As the Agnus Castus, or Vitex is, by Galen, said to be dry in the third Degree, like Rue, and to consist of very subtile Parts, it is impossible it should produce Impotence by rendering the Seed cold, which it diminishes and dissipates, not so much by the Subtilty of its Parts, as by its peculiar Sulphur. The incomparable Hoffman, both in his Variæ Lectiones, and in his Treatise de Medicamentis Officinalibus, has treated accurately of the Vitex. But, if that Author had been still alive, he would have agreed with me in this, that what Galen ascribes to the Subtilty of the Parts, not only of all Simples, but also of such Things as act by their whole Substance, such as Opium, Tobacco, Agnus Castus, Chinese Tea, European Tea, or the Myrtus Brabantica, or the Chamelæagnus Danica, is to be ascribed to their small sulphureous, and excessively dry Parts. Thus the Seeds of the Agnus Castus affect the Head, and from what has been said, it is sufficiently obvious, that the Seeds of the Chamelæagnus contribute principally to intoxicate the Country People, who prepare their Ale with it: The Seeds of the Agnus Castus, according to Hoffman, "do not convey Flatulences to the Head, except when they affect it by the Subtilty of their Parts (which I call their sulphureous Quality) just as Wine, whose Taste and Smell they have, according to Pliny, affects the Head, and procures Sleep." All these Properties of Wine, as well as of our Chamelæagnus, proceed from their Sulphur, which is grateful to the Nerves: But these Effects could never be produced, only by Galen's Subtilty of the Parts. But to proceed, in the Words of Hoffman: "Another Proof of the Subtilty of the Parts of Agnus Castus, (which I call its sulphureous Quality) is, that its Seeds, whether crude, or toasted, discuss Flatulencies of the Intestines, and most powerfully when toasted; since these do not so much affect the Head as the former." Thus, it also happens, that an Account of the artificial and careful Toasting of the Chinese Tea, by which most of its sulphureous Parts are dissipated, it prevents Sleep in the Chinese: Whereas, the European Tea, or Chamelæagnus, renders the Country People, as it were, intoxicated, and disposed to Sleep. But these different Effects are not owing to any occult Qualities of the Chinese and European Teas, but manifestly to the sulphureous Parts, of which the Chinese has a far smaller Quantity than our Chamelæagnus. Thus, it is certain, that prepared Vipers may be safely eaten, and that Dioscorides roasted Vipers for Food; so vast a Difference there is between artificial Preparations, and natural Productions. But to proceed: Hoffman, with respect to toasting the Seeds of the Agnus Castus, tells us, "That in toasting, the remarkably subtile Parts are dissipated." These remarkably subtile Parts, I call sulphureous, which the Persians also dissipate, by an artificial toasting, from the Seeds Bon, or Ban, conveyed to them from Egypt. Thus, the celebrated Hoffman, only differs from me in Words, but not in Sentiments. The same also holds true of Chocolate. I, therefore, conclude, that all these Substances are of a drying Quality, on account of their sulphureous Parts. I would, therefore, advise all Europeans to have a due Regard to these Things, to preserve Youth by moistening Substances, and prevent old Age, which is brought on before its due Time, by Means of these drying and sulphureous Commodities; though, at the same time, I do not prohibit the Use of moderately hot Substances. Let no one condemn me for making Repetitions; since it is a Maxim, not only of Policy, but also of common Humanity, That the Safety of the People, is, of all other Laws, the most essential and important. If, therefore, an immense Reward was bestowed on the Man who preserved a single Roman Citizen, I may, certainly, hope for Indulgence, when, by repeated Expostulations, I attempt to preserve all Europe, by perswading its Inhabitants not to exchange our own salutary Regimen, for that of the Asiatics, and Chinese, by following their Custom of Tea-Drinking. Martinus Martinius, indeed, in his Preface to his Atlas Siniticus, greatly extols the Chinese Regimen, in the following Manner: "Their Drinks, says he, whether prepared with Water, Wine, or Rice, must always be warm; they macerate their Tea in particular in boiling Water, which they drink as hot as they can bear. When I was accustomed to this Regimen, I commended the Chinese, and condemned the Europeans, who are so fond of drinking cold Liquors; for, in China, the Inhabitants, by drinking their Liquors warm, both extinguish Thirst, and so dissipate the redundant Humours, that they hardly ever spit; nor are they afflicted with Crudities of the Stomach, as the Europeans are: They have also fewer, and less violent Diseases; neither are the Stone, the Gout in the Hands and Feet, and other similar Disorders, known among them." But these Things happened to Martinius, in China, and not in Europe. Nor shall he ever perswade me, to change the European, for the Indian Regimen. Since, according to Martinius himself, some of the Inhabitants of that Country, on account of the Pythagorean Doctrine, of the Transmigration of Souls, religiously abstain from Flesh, and think,

----Scelus est in Viscere Viscera Condi, Congestoq; Avidum pinguescere Corpore Corpus, Alterusq; Animantem Animantis vivero Letho.

Martinius, therefore, makes an insufficient Enumeration of Causes; since the good Health of the Chinese, is not totally owing to the Use of Tea, but to various other Circumstances, which we shall not here enumerate: Only I shall, from the Amphiatridius of Johannes Boterius, published in 1600, observe, "That in the various Districts of China, the Clemency and Salubrity of the Air is so great, that a Pestilence has never been remembered to rage universally in them." For the Sake also of those who want the sixth Part of the Theatrum Europæum Johannis Bleau, or the Novus Atlas Martinii, I shall, from the Preface of the last-mentioned Author, take the following Passage: "In Practice, the Chinese Physicians surpass those of Europe, who are more addicted to Dispute and Speculation, but less successful and happy in the Cure of Diseases, than the former." But, if a Chinese Physician was to practice on the Baltick Shore, where endemial Scurvys rage, it is hardly credible, that he would cure them with greater Success, than a skilful European Physician does; since, according to Hippocrates, there are many nominal, but few real Physicians. The same Author, in his Prisca Medicina, informs us, "That most Physicians resemble bad Pilots, who, if they steer the Vessel in a smooth and calm Sea, can prevent the Detection of their Ignorance; but, when they are attacked by blowing Winds, and violent Tempests, it becomes sufficiently obvious, that the Ship must be lost through their Fault, and Want of Skill." But to drop the Defence of the European Physicians, I shall return to the Asiatics. Martinius then, in the Passage last quoted, tells us, "That the Chinese Physicians generally prepare their Medicines of Simples and Decoctions; that they use Unctions, and Frictions, but not Venesections, which they look upon as an irreparable Error. They rather chuse to reduce the Blood to a due Temperature, by Fasting, and refrigerating Medicines; for, say they, because Broth boils in a Pot, the Broth is not, therefore, to be poured out, but the Fire to be removed from the Pot." But this Comparison is certainly far from being just: And, a little after, the Author subjoins, "In China are great Numbers of Chymists, who confidently boast of producing Gold, and preventing Death by Means of their Medicines. The Design of these Men is like that of their Brethren in Europe, to extort Money from the credulous and avaritious Part of their Fellow Creatures."

I now return, to consider the Air, Water, and Situation of the Chinese. Martinius then, in the Place before quoted, tells us, that China, or the most remote Parts of Asia, abounds with all Kinds of metallic Mines, such as those of Gold, Silver, Mercury, Iron, Tin, Copper, Minium, Lapis Lazuli, and Vitriol; in consequence of which, it is probable, that the Chinese Waters, flowing from the Mountains, as well as those of Europe, partake of the Qualities of the various Minerals through which they glide. Thus, according to Georgius Agricola, in Lib. 10. de Natur. Fossil. Cap. 18. at Goslar, in Saxony, there is a Kind of Bole, or Earth, impregnated with the Juice of Vitriol, as also with Oker. The same Agricola, in Lib. 1. De Natura eorum quæ ex Terra effluunt. Cap. 4. informs us, that the River Ochra, receives its Name from Oker, with which it is tinged, of a yellow Colour, at the Place where a Rivulet coming from Mount Ramelus, disembogues itself into it. Hence, it is easy to assign a Reason, why the Goslar Ale is so diuretic: The Garlabian Ale also, so much used at Helmstadt, is of a medicinal Nature: Hence, according to the celebrated Hoffman, in Paral. Officin. Cap. ult. "It both cures and produces Diseases in such as are not accustomed to it; for it is prepared of some hot, mineral Water, as is obvious from its peculiar Taste. On the contrary, the Turgensian Ale is highly agreeable; because the Water of which it is prepared has some mineral Quality, which is easily lost by Carriage; which also happens to other Waters. Hence, Augustus, Elector of Leipsic, in preparing his Ale, instead of Malt, ordered only a Drag to be boiled." I would not, however, have any one confide too much, either in hot or cold Mineral Waters. But among Mineral Waters, I also reckon that described by Martinius, in his Account of the ninth Province of China, called Kiangnar, and the fifth Town, called Chang-chew, in the following Manner: "Near Kiangin is a Mount, called Mount Chin, celebrated on account of a fabulous Chinese Story; for they assert, that a Woman was there born of a Deer. The Rivulet Leang, from a small Hill, called Hoej, flows into a Lake, near Vusie: Its Origin is a Fountain called Hoej, whose Waters are, by the Natives, accounted to be the second in Goodness; and I myself am convinced from Experience, that the Chinese are in the right, with respect to these Waters; for they are universally admired by the Grandees; and hardly any Ship passes, without purchasing, for a Trifle, large Quantities of this Water, previously put up in Casks; though Strangers, who stay for any Time there, may, for nothing, drink as much as they please. It is conveyed to the most remote Provinces, even as far as Peking; for it is excellently well suited to the Preparation of Tea: So that these two Commodities are generally sold together." But surely this Chinese Water is to be had in no Part of Europe. The same Author, in his Description of the fifteenth Province, called Junnam, and its Metropolis, tells us, "That in Mount Xang, situated to the North of the Town, there is a Spring of intensely cold Water, which, however, is highly beneficial to paralitic Persons." He also tells us, that in the same Province, there is a Spring called Hiangkui, which, in their Language, signifies odoriferous Water, "Because it diffuses a fragrant Scent, especially in the Spring, at which Time, the Inhabitants offer Sacrifices to the Fountain, and drink Water, mixed with Wine, or with a Liquor prepared of Rice. They also assert, that this Liquor cures many Diseases." That these Waters are impregnated with Metallic Particles, I have two Reasons to believe: First, Because Martinius informs us, that the Rivulet near the City Vusie, flows from a Fountain on a little Hill, called Hoej: The second is, that the Waters of this Lake are conveyed to the remotest Provinces, even to the Royal City, Peking, where they are used by the Grandees in preparing their Tea. But the best Waters, when taken from the Spring, cannot be long preserved from Corruption, unless they abound with a peculiar Salt: Since the cold Mineral Waters of the Spaw, lose much of their Virtue by being conveyed only into the Provinces adjacent to Germany. Thus, it is sufficiently known to all the Europeans, that the May Rains abound with Salt and Sulphur; in consequence of which, they keep longer free from Corruption than other Waters. For this Reason, it is customary among the Papists, to prepare their Holy Water of May Rain: See my Digressio de Febribus Malignis. But, lest these Reasons should be esteemed conjectural, I shall farther prove, and confirm my Opinion from Martinius, who, in the Place before quoted, speaks in the following Manner: "It is not without Reason that the City Gnihing receives that Name, which, in their Language, signifies the Glory of the Earth; and which was bestowed upon it, because in it are made the earthen Vessels, used in diluting, and drinking their Tea. The Reason why these are preferred to the Chinese, though more transparent, and diaphanous, is, because the former convey to the Tea, a certain Taste and Smell, much admired by the Chinese; so that the Inhabitants of that City are much employed in making them; and some of them are sold at a Price equal, if not superior, to those of Portugal." Since, therefore, these Vessels communicate to the Tea, both a Smell and Taste, which are grateful to the Chinese; since the Cause of Taste is a volatile Salt, and that of Smell a certain Sulphur; since this Salt and Sulphur can hardly be separated by Chymistry; and since it is peculiar to Salt to penetrate into the Essence of Things; it must necessarily happen, that the Water, taken from the Lake, or River last mentioned, and which is without any Smell, (for, if it had been odorous, Martinius would have mentioned that Circumstance, as he did of the third Fountain) must gradually extract the Taste and Smell from those precious Vessels, resembling Lemnian or Silesian Earth. But this Water of the Rivulet Leang, or of the Fountain Hoej, would either not at all, or with Difficulty, extract the Taste and Smell from these earthen Vessels, unless it abounded with an highly penetrating Salt, or, perhaps, a Vitriol; since Martinius tells us, that Vitriol Mines are found in China, for no Substance can communicate to another, a Quality which it does possess itself. Tea has indeed a Taste, though not of the grateful Kind, as is obvious from what has been said. The Taste and Smell, therefore, which the Chinese perceive in drinking Tea, do not proceed from the Tea itself, but from the Water, or earthen Vessels they use, or from both; from the Water, which by its Mineral Salt, extracts from the Vessels their Salt and Sulphur; and from the Vessels, which in return communicate these to the Water. For this peculiar Quality of the Earth, the City is called Gnihing, which, according to Martinius, signifies the Glory of the Earth. It is, by no means, surprizing to find various fragrant Mineral Earths: Thus, in the Dutchy of Kalenberg, in Germany, there is dug up a certain bituminous Mineral, which is a Kind of intermediate Substance, between Earth, Clay, and Stone; and which if it is either licked with the Tongue, or has cold Water, and especially Rain-Water, poured upon it, diffuses a Smell as fragrant as that of the Violet: The Truth of this, I know from Experience. But these precious Vessels are so rare in Europe, that the smallest of them are not to be purchased under an immense Sum. When, however, I understood, that Frederic the third, King of Norway and Denmark, had, among other Chinese Curiosities, two of these elegant and sumptuous Vessels; I obtained the Use of them from him, and prevailed upon Julius Reichelt, Professor of Mathematics at Strasburg, and a skilful Designer, to delineate them. This Gentleman has, with the greatest Accuracy, not only exhibited in the following Plates, these, and other Chinese Utensils, but also informed himself of their real Bulk, with all the Care and Pains he possibly could: But we shall give an Account of his Performance in his own Words:

TAB. I. Fig. I. Fig. II. Fig. III. Fig. IV. Fig. V. Fig. VI. Fig. VII.

B. Cole. Sculp.

TAB. II. Fig. VIII. Fig. IX. Fig. X. Fig. XI. Fig. XII. Fig. XIII. Fig. XIV.

B. Cole. Sculp.

"At the Request of the learned and judicious Simon Pauli, I have delineated some of the Chinese Utensils, and hope for Indulgence, because these Vessels are neither exhibited according to the Laws of Painting, nor Perspective; but in a Manner, used by Mechanics, since I thought it expedient, both for the Sake of the Subject, and the Satisfaction of the curious Reader, to have a due Regard to Capacity, and Measure. I have exhibited the Orthography of the Vessel represented by Fig. IX. the Scenography of Fig. III. of which the Orthography is represented by Fig. IV. In Fig. VIII. the Scenography of the Vessel M, and the Orthography of its Cover N, are represented; but I have only described the Scenographies of all the rest. I have used the Rhinlandian Geometrical Foot, to the Measure of which all the Parts of these Vessels are adjusted, in that Proportion, observable in Fig. XIV. which represents a smaller Foot, divided into ten Parts. Fig. XIII. exhibits a wooden Instrument, exactly of the same Size with the Figure. In all the Figures I have represented the Length and Breadth by Diameters and Diagonals; but the Height or Depth, by pricked Perpendiculars. I hope the Mathematical Reader will find no Fault with the quadrangular Passage B in Fig. I. for conveying the Air, in order to ventilate the Coals; nor with Fig. IX. the two Feet of which, shade other two similar to themselves."

An Explanation of the Figures, representing some Chinese Utensils.

Fig. I. Represents a Kind of Kettle, curiously made of Chinese Copper, furnished with a Handle, divided by a Copper Partition; and which, though at first View, it appears to be one Vessel, is yet, upon narrower Inspection, found to be two, with two Coverings; for A represents a small Furnace, into which the Coals are put; and B, the Mouth of the Furnace, covered with Cross-Bars, for the better Ventilation of the Coals. The other Vessel has its internal Surface lined, or covered with Tin, serves either for drying, or boiling the Tea, and is furnished with a particular small Tube, the Cover of which is exhibited by a; by the Benefit of which, the large Coverings, C D, being shut up, the Vapours of the Tea may be retained, or allowed to exhale at Pleasure.

Fig. II. E represents a Copper Vessel, in which the Tea is either boiled, or preserved, when dry. E represents its Tube, and F the covering of the Tube.

Fig. III. and IV. G G exhibit different Views of one and the same Vessel, the internal Surface of which is lined with a thin gilded Plate, of some proper Metal, and the external Surface, covered with Lack, after the Manner of the Chinese.

Fig. V. I I. No. 1. represents a genuine Chinese Tea-Leaf macerated, and stretched to its full Extent. No. 2. A Leaf of the Chamelæagnus, or what the French call Piment Royal, artificially dried.

Fig. VI. K represents another, and, in my Opinion, a spurious Chinese Tea-Leaf, brought from China.

Fig. VII. L exhibits a Leaf of what Clusius calls the Spiræa Theophrasti, found in the Green-Houses of Copenhagen, and so like the spurious Chinese Tea, with which the genuine is adulterated, that the one cannot be distinguished from the other.

Fig. VIII. M represents a curious Polygonal Tea-Pot, probably made of sealed Lemnian, or Silesian Earth. N its Lid joined by the golden Chain O, to its Handle P. and Q. Its Stroup curiously tipped with Gold.

Fig. IX. R represents another earthen Tea-Pot, with a Stroup, but of a roundish, or oblong Form, and in the Lid of which, is fixed a Ring of Clay S for taking it off and putting it on: Both these earthen Tea-Pots are highly fragrant; the former is of a light, and the latter of a pale red Colour.

Fig. X. T exhibits a Copper Vessel lined with Tin, capable of containing four Ounces; and whose inferior Part about the Letter V is covered with a Kind of Case, woven of such Wood as the Europeans use in making Sieves; but so as that the Vessel can be taken out of the Case. But I am of Opinion, that the Chinese pour their hot Tea, whether infused, or boiled, into this, in order to prevent the scalding of their Hands; and so cool the Liquor, as that it may neither burn their Lips, nor Tongue.

Fig. XI. X represents this wooden Case, or Handle, by itself.

Fig. XII. Y exhibits a small wooden Ladle, with a semicircular wooden Handle.

Fig. XIII. Z represents a small, and somewhat incurvated wooden Spatula.

Fig. XIV. represents a small geometrical Foot, divided into ten equal Parts, for ascertaining the just Proportion of the Utensils described.

It is to be observed, that these Vessels are of a grateful fragrant Smell, resembling those of the Juniper, Cypress, or Aloes Tree, which is certainly owing to the bituminous Earth of which they are formed. Thus we have before observed, that the Kalenburgian bituminous Earth is as fragrant as Violets; and that, according to Martinius, it is on account of the Fragrance of these Vessels, that the Chinese are so fond of them, and purchase them at such immense Prices. We have also taken Notice from Tulpius, and Maffæus, that these Pots, Vessels, and other Pieces of Tea Equipage, are, by the Chinese, bought at the Rate of some Thousand Nobles, wrapped up in silken Coverings, shewn only to their nearest Friends, and as much valued by them as Adamants, Gems, and curious Medals are by the Europeans. Let the Europeans, therefore, before they drink Tea, which itself is void of Smell, provide themselves with the fragrant Vessels of Gnihing, and the Waters of the Rivulet Vussie, which they must bring uncorrupted from China; and then, on Supposition the Air was the same, which it is not, the same Effects might be produced in Europe by Tea, as those which it is boasted to produce in China. It is therefore far more congruous to Truth and Reason, to suppose, that the Chinese are free from the Stone, Gout, and arthritic Pains, rather by the Goodness of their Water, than by their Tea alone, which may also contribute something to their Happiness in these Respects. Besides, the Force and Virtue of Tea, must be considerably impaired and lost, by the intense Heat of the Sun, during so long a Voyage, in which the Equator must be twice crossed, before the Ships arrive at any European Ports. Hence we know from Experience, that those Persons most consult the Interest of the Europeans, who, according to Mercator, in his Description of China, advise, that Rhubarb, with the best Sort of which, China abounds, should be brought through Persia by Land, lest it should be spoiled and corrupted by so long a Voyage. What must therefore happen to Tea, or the Chinese Chamelæagnus, which is in China frequently toasted in an Iron Pan, so as to corrugate and conglomerate its Leaves, according to Rhodius and Martinius? For, if the Virtues of Rhubarb, which is a compact Substance, are, by such a Voyage, exhaled, this Misfortune must much more happen to the tender Leaves of Tea, which are gathered in the Spring, and have a bitterish Taste, but no Smell. Hence we may infer, that these Leaves are, after their Arrival at Europe, possessed of a volatile and fixed Salt, but deprived of their Sulphur, especially the most volatile Part of it; for, if they were intirely destitute of Sulphur, they would not take Flame, nor could they be burned. The Author of a Book, intitled, Artificia Hominum Miranda Naturæ in Sina & Europa, in Chap. 35. tells us, "that in Chekiang, in China, there are Woods of Mulberry-Trees, so many Silk-Worms, and such immense Quantities of Silk, that a Person may there purchase ten silken Suits of Cloaths at an easier Rate, than he can have one of Cloth in any Part of Europe. The Chinese prune their Mulberry-Trees every Year, as the Europeans do their Vines; nor do they suffer them to grow up into tall Trees, because they have found from long Experience, that the Leaves of the smallest Trees produce the finest Substance for Silk, and the best Thread: For which Reason, they justly distinguish between the first and second Weaving of the Thread: The former is produced when the Worms are nourished by the Leaves which appear in the Spring, and are soft and delicate: The latter is, when they are fed upon the Summer Leaves, which are coarse and hard; so great is the Difference of Work produced by these Animals only by a Change of Food." If this Account of the Nourishment of Silk-Worms is true, as we Europeans find it by Experience, so it is equally certain, that there is as great a Difference between those Leaves of the Chinese Tea, or European Chamelæagnus, which appear in the Spring, and those which are produced in the Summer, as I have all along insinuated in this Work. By this remarkable Passage of the anonymous Author, I am more and more convinced, that the vernal Leaves of the Chamelæagnus, or European Tea, are possessed of different Virtues from those which appear in the Summer, when the Sun has entered Leo: And those who will not grant this Truth, are confuted by the palpable Instance drawn from the Nourishment of the Silk-Worms.

By way of Digression, I shall intreat every Lover of Truth, to throw the Leaves, (not the Shrub, Flowers, or Seeds) of the European Chamelæagnus, which, when dry, have no Scent upon live Coals, and do the same with an equal Quantity of Chinese Tea, tho' in different Rooms, and by the exact Resemblance of the Smell diffused by each, he will be convinced that the Chamelæagnus is a Plant of the same Species with Tea.

I am not acquainted with all the Acts, Statutes, and Laws, of the different Cities of Europe, made for suppressing and preventing the Avarice and Exorbitance of Apothecaries; only in Upper and Lower Germany, a certain Fine is, by public Authority, laid upon the Apothecary who sells old and mouldy Herbs, or uses any Methods to make them appear good and fresh: Nay, it is customary, in some Provinces of Germany, publickly to burn such Herbs, Roots, Shrubs, or Plants as are bad, or suspected to be more than one Year old; lest the poorer Inhabitants should, like the Widow mentioned in Luke, Chap. viii. 43, spend all their Money upon Physicians, without being healed by any: But the Case is quite otherwise with Tea; for supposing it to be only one Year old, when it is put into the Ships at China, it must be double that Time, and often more, before it arrives to us. How great then is the Stupidity of us Europeans, who are never disgusted at the Avarice and Baseness of the Asiatics, though they should send us Tea as old as the Trojan War, whilst they use it fresh and good themselves? Besides, as the Tea-Leaves have no Smell, it is highly probable, that the Asiatics have infused and macerated them, and then dried them a second Time for the Use of the Europeans; since, when chewed in the Mouth, they are resolved into a Kind of gross Powder. I am also of the Opinion of the celebrated Wormius, who thought it highly probable, that Tea-Leaves were either mixed with others, or had others intirely substituted in their stead. If we are at such Care and Pains to discharge and prohibit the Sale of old European Plants, ought we not, with the same Rigour and Authority, to prohibit the Import of Tea deprived of its Smell, and long ago dried and prepared for the Use of the Chinese? The Man would surely be ridiculous who should import into Europe large Quantities of Tobacco, already cut small for the present Smoaking of the Indians, or Americans; or who should commend it on account of its unctuous Sulphur, or prefer it to large Pricks, made up hard and compact for the Sake of keeping; for cut Tobacco after it has been kept some Months and become dry, loses all its Virtue, and is despised by a phlegmatic European. It is also obvious from what has been said, that after the Chinese have toasted their Tea, they preserve it in close stopped Vessels, that it may not be corrupted, or too much dried by the Access of the Air: It is, therefore, the Duty of every European to join in engaging the Legislature to put a Stop to this epidemical Evil, and prohibit the Abuse, not only of Tea, but also of Tobacco, since both of these, and Coffee, as I have before shewn, so enervate the European Men, that they become incapable of propagating their Species, like Eunuchs, some of whom are highly salacious; but it is sufficiently known, that they are incapable of Procreation, tho' they emit something analogous to Semen. For this Reason, the Turks perform Castration in a different Manner from the Italians, since the former cut off Penis, Testicles, and all; and the latter only the Testicles. The Curious may consult Bartholinus Anatom. Reformat. Lib. 1. at the End of which, they will be informed why, and when it happens, that Horses and Bulls procreate their respective Species after Castration: The Turks, therefore, lest their Eunuchs should provide them with a spurious Progeny, treat them in a far more inhuman Manner, than the Italians do. Since we have mentioned the Turks, it will not be improper to observe, that the Persians, though salacious, are, nevertheless, generally impotent: For since, on account of Polygamy, which they have in common with the Turks, they have a numerous Progeny to be supported; when they copulate with their Wives and Whores, they are not so sollicitous to procure an Offspring, as, like the infamous Onan, to emit a vapid and unprolific Seed, which, on account of the Coffee corrupted in their Veins, may, by a Person acquainted with Chymical Principles, be justly compared to the Lees of Wine, in a great Measure deprived of the volatile Salt and Sulphur of the Wine: Or it may be compared to that of the Eunuchs of other less brutal Nations; or that of the Scythians, who are by Hippocrates, in Lib. de Aere, Aquis, & Locis, stiled emasculated and effeminate Mortals. The same Author, in the Work now quoted, assigns other Causes for the Sterility of the Scythians; "for, says he, they make so deep Incisions in the Veins behind their Ears, that when they come to be married, they are impotent." But Olearius informs us, that without this Practice, the salacious Persians emasculate themselves only by the Use of Coffee: Nor is this surprizing, since Salacity, instead of promoting Procreation, procures Sterility. Hence a common Strumpet rarely becomes pregnant, notwithstanding her frequent venereal Encounters with salacious Rakes and Debauchees. Besides, there is a vast Difference between stimulating, cold, and languid Constitutions to Venery, which is obtained by Rocket, and fecundating the Semen, which is obtained by some Vegetables, as Sweet Almonds, Pine Kernels, Pistachio Nuts, and Chesnuts; as also by Animals, as Capons, Larks, Thrushes, Kids-Flesh, Mutton, or Veal. I do not deny, but Coffee, Chocolate, and Tobacco, have a Power of stimulating to Venery, but may yet induce Sterility, because they consist of heterogeneous Parts, or rather act by their whole Substances: But all these Things are unfit for fecundating the Semen; as also all other Substances of a drying Quality, and not cold Substances, as is commonly believed. The Effeminacy and Impotence then produced by drinking Coffee, and smoaking Tobacco, are sufficiently obvious. And to these two, if I am not mistaken, good Judges will join Tea, because according to Martinius, the Chinese by the last not only extinguish Thirst, but also dissipate their Humours to such a Degree, that they hardly ever spit. It is also by a drying Quality, that the Agnus Castus, Rue, Mint, and Camphire, render Men impotent. Besides, Tea is to the Chinese themselves only a new Thing, whose Virtues and Faculties they have not, as yet, sufficiently investigated; for which Reason I justly prefer to it our own Betony, which has been deservedly celebrated for so many Ages. The Chinese Incapacity of Spitting is, therefore, a manifest Proof that Tea contains a drying, though not an intensely hot Sulphur. I do not find it expresly affirmed by Authors, that Chocolate, as well as Coffee, produces Sterility and Impotence; since they rather assert, that it proves a Stimulus to Venery: A Circumstance confirmed by the Accounts of some Men of Learning and Penetration, upon their Return from Africa and America. But as Benzon informs us, "that Chocolate has a somewhat bitterish Taste, and refrigerates, or dries the Body, without producing the smallest Degree of Intoxication:" Hence we may reasonably infer, that as Chocolate agrees with Coffee and Tea, in one Third of its Qualities, so all these three exactly agree with each other, in producing Effeminacy and Impotence: But I shall not here attempt an Investigation of their other Qualities. I therefore hope, that for the future, the Europeans will be wise, and reject Coffee, Chocolate, and Tea; since they are all either equally bad, or equally good: Nay, I hope to see People of all Ranks and Conditions, have as great an Aversion to them as the Mahometans and Turks, or rather their Emperors have to Tobacco, the Lovers of which, as well as thole who are idle, prodigal, barren, impotent, or effeminate, they will not suffer to live within their Territories. There is another Method of producing Barrenness and Impotence, probably brought from Asia into Europe, which is the indiscriminate Use of Venesection, in both Sexes, behind the Ears, for intolerable Tooth-achs. But let me tell the Persons, who, despising the Authority of Hippocrates, suffer, like the Scythians, the Veins behind their Ears to be opened, that they will afterwards repent their Folly, when they find Sterility and Impotence to be their Fate. Some practical Physicians may furnish us with Instances of Tooth-achs, accompanied with Deliriums, and other violent Symptoms; but none of them seem to have observed, that a Tooth-ach, when removed by opening the Veins behind the Ears, has proved the Cause of Sterility, as Hippocrates, who, according to Macrobius, was never deceived himself, nor imposed upon others, affirms, not of a single Instance or two, but of the whole Nation of the Scythians. Let, therefore, the Masters and Mistresses of Families reject the Custom of cauterising or opening the Veins behind the Ears, unless they incline that their Children should be cursed with Sterility, or Impotence, which are attended with a dire and numerous Train of Woes. So that we hope the Europeans will guard against Sterility; produced in the Indies by Coffee, Tea, and Chocolate; and in Scythia by opening, or burning the Veins behind the Ears.

Having already considered the Regimen of the Chinese, I shall proceed to take Notice of their Manners, Customs, and Dispositions: In the Execution of which Design I shall take my Accounts from Martinius, who, when treating of Quack-Physicians, affirms, that the Chinese, as well as the Cretans, are greatly addicted to Lying. The same Author, in his Atlas Chinicus, speaks in the following Manner: "The Europeans are superior to the Chinese in Fortitude, but the Chinese excel the Europeans in Brightness of Genius: They are also sagacious, cunning, intrepid, industrious, and dextrous, in managing sudden Emergencies: Notwithstanding their great Abundance, they collect and preserve the most worthless Things, such as Dogs Bones, Feathers, and Hogs Bristles, which they sell. Their Penetration often discovers itself by Fraud, Guile, and Imposition. Their Merchants are industrious and active, and the whole of the Inhabitants spare no Pains, and think no Labour too severe, when they have the smallest Prospect of Gain, because they always prefer Profit to Honesty. They have sound and robust Constitutions, being accustomed to Fatigue from their Infancy: Some of them are of as fair Complexions as the Europeans."

As I have before compared the Chinese with the European Regimen, so I should here institute the Comparison between their Manners and Dispositions, if Barclay had not already executed that Design with great Judgment and Accuracy: Only I must observe, that their Cunning surpasses our Prudence, and that their Fraud sufficiently evinces their Inclination to deceive us. In a word, Cunning, Avarice, and Lying, are the distinguishing Characteristicks of the Asiatics, who yearly defraud the Europeans of such immense Sums of Money for Teas. As Hippocrates spared no Pains to remove and root out the Athenian Plague, so I have used the utmost of my Endeavours to destroy the raging epidemical Madness of importing Tea into Europe from China; since I have demonstrated, that the Chinese Tea, and the Chamelæagnus, or Myrtus Brabantica, are Plants of the same Species. Let such, therefore, as are unacquainted with Botany, cease to use Chinese Tea, and in its Room substitute our European Chamelæagnus. Tho' I have not Authority sufficient to force my Opinions upon others, yet let me perswade my Countrymen to use Betony, which, as Antonius Musa informs us, cures no less than forty Disorders, instead of the Chinese Tea, which is without Smell, corrupted by the Length of the Voyage, and destitute of the Qualities it is possessed of in Asia: Nor do I in the least doubt, but the European Betony would happily cure those Disorders, for which the Chinese recommend their Tea. The Physicians of China are indeed to be commended for curing Diseases by Abstinence from Meat and Drink, and the Use of simple Decoctions, or other similar Things; because Nature delights in Simplicity, is contented with little, and overpowered by a Farrago of compound Medicines.

If I should be laughed at for my Opinions, I shall comfort myself with this Reflection, that I have always had so sacred and inviolable an Attachment to Truth, that I have chearfully gone whithersoever she led me; so that I may, with a few Variations, put a Close to this Work, in the Words of Cicero, in Academ. Quest. Lib. 4.

"If I had been induced to this Work by Ostentation, or the Love of Dispute, I ought to be condemned, not only as a Fool, but also as a vicious and immoral Man; for, if Obstinacy in Trifles is justly ridiculed, it ought to be much more so in Affairs of Importance. During the whole Course of my Life I have been impartial in my Searches after Truth, and never attempted to impose upon the Judgment of others; for I can swear by the immortal God, that I not only have an ardent Love to Truth, but also that I speak the genuine Sentiments of my Mind; for why should not I desire to discover Truth, when I rejoice to find what bears a near Resemblance to it. As it is the peculiar Glory of the human Nature, to perceive Truth in its genuine Colours; so, it is a Disgrace to Reason to embrace Falshood for Truth. I do not, however, lay claim to Infallibility, since I confess that I may err, as well as other Men."

FINIS.