A TREATISE ON TEA.

I Have hitherto strenuously endeavoured to preserve the Health of the Europeans, by discarding and exploding the Abuse of Tobacco: But if any one should ask my Sentiments of Tea, which some Years ago began to be imported from Asia, and the Eastern Countries, and which has Qualities quite contrary to Tobacco, since it prevents Sleep, and therefore is by some Authors highly commended as an excellent Cephalic, and very grateful to the Viscera, subservient to Nutrition: I answer, that no satisfactory Reply can be made, till we know the Genus and Species of Tea, and to what Species of European Herbs it may be referred or compared; for Tobacco is by us called the Peruvian Hyosciamius, but we give no Name of any of our Plants to Tea: Nay, it is not known, whether Tea is what the Greeks call Ποα, an Herb, or Θαμνίσκιον, a Shrub, which Words, according to Ruellius, Morantha, and others, are so confounded by Dioscorides, Theophrastus, and other Botanists, as to occasion great Disputes among the Learned. But the Authors, who have most faithfully collected whatever has been wrote upon Tea, either in the Spanish, French, Latin, English, or Dutch Languages, are Nicolaus Tulpius, and Nicolaus Trigautius, from the Works of whom I shall enquire,

1st, Of what Kind and Species the Herb Tea is?

2d, Whether Tea is only the Produce of Asia, and whether it is ever found in Europe, or not? And,

3d, Which of the European Herbs may be most properly used in its Stead.

Tulpius, then, speaks in the following Manner: "In the East Indies nothing is more common than drinking the Decoction of an Herb, which the Chinese call Thee, and the Japonese, Tchia. As my Accounts of this Plant were received from the best and most impartial Authors, I shall willingly hand them down to Posterity. The Herb Tea, therefore, has long acuminated Leaves crenated about the Edges. Its Roots are fibrous, and divided into very small Shreds. It grows not only in China and Japan, but also in Chiam, only the Leaves of the Chinese Tea are of a blackish green Colour: Whereas the Japonese Tea is of a fainter Colour, and more grateful Taste. Hence it also happens, that the Tchia of the Japonese, is far more esteemed than the Thee of the Chinese; since one Pound of the former is frequently sold at an Hundred Libræ; for it is in these Parts of the World believed, that nothing is more salutary and beneficial than this Herb, whether for protracting Life to extreme old Age, or for preventing the Attacks of Diseases. It not only renders the Body vigorous and active, and prevents the Stone, to which none of the Inhabitants are for this Reason subject, but also removes Head-achs, Stuffings of the Head, Inflammations, and Distillations of the Eyes, a Difficulty of Breathing, Weakness of the Stomach, Gripes of the Intestines, and Weariness. It also so effectually prevents Sleep, that those who drink it at Night, can sit up, without feeling the least Inclination to sleep: for it is moderately heating, and by constricting the Mouth of the Stomach, hinders the Ascent of those Vapours which are necessary to procure Sleep; so that, by its Means, nothing hinders or interrupts those who intend to read or write all Night.

"This Plant, however, seems neither to have been long known, nor long used, among the Chinese, since they have no hieroglyphical Characters, such as most of their Letters are, which express its Nature and Qualities. These two Nations also differ widely, with respect to the Manner of using Tea; since the Japonese mix the Tea, powdered in a Marble Mortar, with warm Water: Whereas, the Chinese, boil the Plant itself with some Liquor, adding a few Grains of Salt, or Sugar. This Decoction, they drink with their Friends and Visitors; and even their leading Men do not think it beneath them, but rather a Piece of Honour to prepare the Tea for their Guests; for which Purpose they have Closets in their Palaces, fitted up on purpose, in which they keep their Pots, Tripods, Tunnels, Cups, Spoons, and other Tea Utensils, which they buy at an exorbitant Price, preserve in Silk, and only use when their best Friends visit them. These, they esteem as much as we do Adamants, Gems, and the most precious Stones. See Joh. Maffæus, Rer. Indicar. Lib. 6. & 12. Ludovic, Almeid. Select. Epist. Lib. 4. Petr. Garric. Tom. 2. Lib. 2. Cap. 17. Matth. Ricius, de Christ. Expedit. apud Sinas, Lib. 1. Cap. 7. Alois Frois, in Relat. Japon. Jac. Bontius, Dialog. 6. Med. Indorum, & Johan. Linseot, Cap. 26."

Nicolaus Trigautius, in Tractat. de Regno Chinæ, Cap. 3. where he treats of the Things produced in China, gives us the following Particulars, with respect to Tea: "I purposely, says he, omit the Description of many Things necessary, such as Marbles of different Colours, Carbuncles, and other Stones and Gems, not unfit for painting; odoriferous Woods, Bitumens, and an incredible Number of other Curiosities; but I neither can, nor ought to pass over, in Silence, two or three Things, unknown to the Europeans; the first of which is, that Shrub, of the Leaves of which is prepared that celebrated Liquor, called Cia, by the Chinese, Japonese, and neighbouring Countries. It is not possible, that the Herb from which this is prepared has been very long used by the Chinese; since, in order to represent it, they have no hieroglyphical Characters, such as all their Letters are. Hence it may, perhaps, be suspected, that our European Woods produce this Herb. They gather the Leaves in the Spring, dry them in a Shade, and keep them for preparing a Decoction, which they almost continually use, not only at their Meals, but also when their Friends come to visit them; for this is generally the Entertainment to which they invite each other. It is always drank, or rather sipped warm; nor is it ungrateful to the Palate, in consequence of its temperate Bitterness; but it is very salutary, and frequently used for various Disorders. Tea is not with them all of one Price; since, sometimes, a Pound is sold for a Noble, and, at other Times, for two or three, if it is accounted good: The best of the Japonese Tea is often sold for ten or twelve, and the Method of preparing it with these, is somewhat different from that of the Chinese; for the Japonese, having reduced their Tea to a Powder, mix two or three Spoonfuls of it with a Cup of boiling Water, which they drink when moderately cool: Whereas, the Chinese throw some of the Leaves into a Vessel of boiling Water, which, after it has imbibed the Force of the Tea, they drink, leaving the Leaves." But, in the seventh Chapter of the same Work, which treats of some of the Customs of the Chinese, the Author speaks in the following Manner: "When any one receives a formal Invitation to a Feast; the Day before, or several Days before, it is to be kept, the Master sends him a Kind of Ticket, desiring his Presence: When he is come to the House, and the usual Ceremonies past, he is set down in the first Hall, where he drinks his Tea; after which he is conducted to the Feasting-Room, which is not adorned with Carpets, which they never use, but with Pictures, Flowers, Vessels, and other antient Houshold Furniture." Though these Accounts may satisfy the Vulgar, yet they will not prove satisfactory to Physicians, who want to know, whether Tea is an Herb, a Shrub, or a Species of Copse; for the two last quoted Authors differ from each other; since Tulpius calls the Chinese Tea, "an Herb, with darkish, green, oblong Leaves, acuminated and crenated about the Edges, with fibrous Roots, divided into many small Shreds. Whereas, the Leaves of the Japonese Tea are of a fainter green Colour, and of a more grateful Taste." But Trigautius affirms, "that it is a Shrub of the Leaves, of which the celebrated Cia, of the Chinese and Japonese, is prepared by Decoction." The former asserts, that the Herb Tea, grows not only in China and Japan, but also in Chiam: The latter thinks it is to be suspected, that it is also produced in the European Woods: But, as I shall afterwards accurately discuss these Points, I shall only here observe, from Olearius, that Maffœus, in Tr. de Rebus Indicis, affirms, that the Japonese, from a certain Plant, express an highly salutary Liquor, which they call Chia; and Linschotanus, in Tr. de Insula Japoniæ, tells us, that the Inhabitants of Japan prepare a Drink called Chaa, from a certain Herb: But these Authors neither mention the Shrub, nor the Leaves, but unanimously assert Tea to be an Herb. Jacobus Bontius, Physician in Ordinary to the Town of New Batavia, in the Island of Java, in the East Indies, in Medic. Indor. Lib. 2. de Conserv. Valetud. Dialog. 6. affirms, "that the Leaves of the small Herb, from which Tea is prepared, resemble those of the Daisy or lesser Cousound, and have small Incisions about their Edges." But since, in the subsequent Chapter, he affirms, that the Inhabitants of that Country, though brutally ignorant in every other Respect, have yet such an exact Knowledge of Roots and Plants, that if Pavius, the greatest Botanist of his Age, was to rise from the Dead, he would wonder to find that he could be instructed by these Men; I am surprized, he should have despised their Information, and, contrary to the Custom of their Historiographers, given us (Europeans) such a lame and imperfect Description of Tea, when commenting on the Indian Plants. One would be ready to take it for an Herb, when he is told, that its Leaves resemble those of the Daisy, and have small Incisions about the Edges, which Tulpius also ascribes to them. It is worth our Observation, that Tulpius, Trigautius, Bontius, and other Authors, unanimously agree in this, that the Decoction of Tea is of a pretty, grateful, bitter Taste. In order, therefore, to clear up these Difficulties, I must have recourse to the Reverend Father, Alexander de Rhodes, who, in his Sommaire des divers Voyages & Missions Apostoliques, speaks in the following Manner: "Among the most memorable Things in this Country, is Tay; the Use of which is not only common to all the Eastern Countries, but also begins to be known in Europe: It is justly to be reckoned among the most salutary Substances which I observed in this Country; and I do not know but it is one of the principal Causes, why the Inhabitants not only enjoy such a good State of Health, but also arrive at so extreme an old Age. The Leaves are as big as those of the Pomegranate Tree, and the Shrub itself resembles the Myrtle Bush. Nor does Tea grow in any Part of the World, except in two Provinces of China, which are Nanquin and Chim, the Inhabitants of which have their Harvests for Tea Leaves, as we have for our Grain in Europe. These Leaves they dry in Furnaces, and preserve for Use in close stopped Vessels. It is frequently used through all China, Japan, Tonquin, and other Kingdoms; and there are such great Quantities of it, that it is sold at a Small Price. For this Reason they use it frequently every Day, or rather each Hour, prepared in the following Manner: They throw the Leaves into boiling Water, which they forthwith take off the Fire; and when the Leaves have subsided, which is generally in a Quarter of an Hour, they drink the Water, from which they find three very happy Effects; the first of which is to repress Vapours, and alleviate Pains of the Head: For when I laboured under an Hemicrania, or any other Disorder of the Head, by drinking this Water, I had my Pain so quickly alleviated, as if a Person had done it by the Application of his Hand. When, for the Sake of hearing Confessions, I was obliged to sit up whole Nights, I used the same Remedy, and, by its Means, was not only hindered from sleeping, but also felt no more Uneasiness next Day, than if I had not sat up. I once made an Experiment of this for six Nights successively, but must confess I found myself wearied and exhausted. The second Virtue of this Water, or Decoction, is to corroborate the Stomach, and the third to purge the Kidnies from Stones and Gravel." Bernardus Varenius, in Descript. Regni Japoniæ, Cap. 23. speaks in the following Manner: "Not only the Japonese, but also the Chinese, are delighted with Draughts of almost boiling Water, in which the Powder of Tea is sprinkled. The Herb Tea is not only Green itself, but also tinges any Liquor with the same Colour. It grows only in some, and not in all Countries, and the finer Kind of its Leaves is thought to be very valuable. These Leaves are, by the richer Sort, kept in large Vessels, close stopped, in order to prevent the Access of the Air. The Leaves, before they are used, are reduced to a Powder." And a little after he subjoins, "This Liquor is pleasant to the Taste, and highly salutary, especially for carrying off the Uneasiness produced by Surfeits, and for removing all pituitous Disorders: So that it is become a proverbial Saying, with respect to the Rich, How is it possible they should not enjoy good Health, since they drink the best Tsia?" Olearius, in the Work before quoted, speaks of Tea in the following Manner: "We have already observed, that at the Maidan in Ispahan, there are, among others, particular Species of Inns, called Tzai, Chattai, and Chane, in which, as well as in other Places, the Persians drink an hot, black Water, prepared of an Herb, brought into their Country by the Usbeck Tartars. This Herb has oblong pointed Leaves, about an Inch long, and half an Inch broad, which, when dried, are of a blackish Colour, and shrivel up into the Form of a Worm; but they are the same with what the Chinese call Tea, and the Japonese and Indians, Chia, and Cha. In each of these Nations, this Herb is highly esteemed; the Persians boil it with Spring-Water, Anise and Fennel: Some of them also add a small Quantity of Cloves to it. The Persians, Chinese, Japonese, and Indians, ascribe uncommon Virtue and Efficacy to this Water, affirming, that it produces the most salutary Effects on the Stomach, Lungs, Liver, Mass of Blood, and all the Viscera, which it deterges and corroborates. It also expels the Stone, removes the Head-ach, and dissipates that superfluous Humidity, which produces Lassitude and Drowsiness. By drinking this Water, a Person is rendered so lively, brisk, and alert, as chearfully to bear the Want of Sleep for several Nights, and without any Pain, or Fatigue, apply long to Business of the greatest Importance. This Liquor, when drank in Moderation, not only preserves Health, but also protracts Life to an excessive old Age. This Herb Tea is, at present, well known in Holland, since the East-Indiamen bring large Quantities of it to Amsterdam." Johannes Albertus von Mandelslo, in Itinerar. Indiæ Orientalis, Cap. 11. gives us the following memorable Account of Tea: "In our Visits, we make use of the black Water, in which the Herb Tea is boiled. This Liquor, which is very common in the Indies, is greatly admired, not only by the Natives, but also by the English and Dutch; since it is said to carry off Phlegm, warm the Stomach, and procure Digestion. We drink it three Times a Day, namely, in the Morning, Afternoon, and Evening. The Persians also drink a black Water, called Chavve, which, in Colour, resembles the Tea, though its Virtues and Efficacy are different; since the Chavve is a great Cooler, and procures Sterility, on which Account, the lascivious Persians chuse to drink it: On the contrary, the Tea moderately warms, and strengthens, the Bowels and Stomach."

Gulielmus Leyl, a Native of Denmark, after his Return from the East Indies, at my Request, courteously wrote me the following Particulars with respect to Tea: "I was informed by the Chinese, in the Islands of Java, Macascar, Celebes, and other Places, that the Cha, or Thee, grew in China and Cathaya; but that the best came from Cathaya, a Country belonging to the Tartars. The Herb is, in the Chinese, Japonese, Tartarian, Persian, Arabic, Turkish, and Indostan Languages, called Cha; in the Pronunciation of which Word, it is to be observed, that the Ch is sounded as it is in Spain and England; but is by the Persians, Arabians, and Turks, expressed by one of their own Characters. By such of the Chinese as border upon the Sea it is called The. In these Countries, vast Sums of Money are laid out upon this Herb, which is said to be possessed of very considerable Virtues; for it corroborates the Stomach, and produces a good Digestion; nourishes the Limbs, and dissipates and carries off by Urine, or otherwise, all peccant and redundant Humidity. It also cures the Gout, and prevents, or expels the Stone and Gravel. During my Residence, for many Years there, I never had the smallest Symptoms of the Gout, with which I have been violently afflicted since my Return into Europe. The Chinese are also Strangers to the Stone, and their Tea not only preserves the Body in good Health, but also removes Intoxication. It prevents Sleep, and renders Persons alert and chearful in the Dispatch of Business. The Water prepared of this Herb, is to be drank in a Morning fasting, with preserved Ginger, as also after Dinner, between Meals, after Supper, or at any Time, since the frequent Use of it is not hurtful. They boil a Pint of Water in a Pot, then put a Spoonful of Tea into it, and cover it close up for a Quarter of an Hour, during which Time they shake it frequently. Those to whom this Liquor is disagreeable, on account of its bitter Taste, put Sugar-Candy into the Cup; but, its Efficacy is greater, when drank without it. The People of Fashion in China and Japan, have their particular Kettles, in which they boil the Water by itself, and then pour it upon the Tea in another Vessel, which they cover for a Quarter of an Hour, shaking it frequently."

In order to determine that dubious and perplexing Question, Whether the Tea of the Chinese is an Herb, or a small Shrub? It is necessary I should previously enquire, whether it is only produced in Asia, or whether any of it is also to be found in Europe; as also which of the European Plants is the most proper Succedaneum to it? In these Disquisitions, I must, therefore, have recourse to the Suffrages of the before-quoted Authors. But I must here advise all Physicians to divest their Minds of Prejudice, and carefully peruse Hippocrates's Treatise de Aere, Aquis, & Locis, by which they will be informed, how much Airs, Waters, and Soils, agree, or disagree, and what proportionable Variations, or Alterations, these Agreements, or Differences are capable of producing. The celebrated Hoffman, in Lib. 2. de Medicament. Officinalibus, Cap. 15. when speaking of the Myrtle, tells us, "That we are carefully to attend to the native Soil and Climate of a Plant, by which it is rendered either better or worse, in consequence of which, its Faculties and Virtues will not be the same in different Countries." This Doctrine I have everywhere inculcated in my Quadripartitium, but especially in the Histories of Betony, Carduus Benedictus, Scurvy-Grass, Marsh Trefoil, Dragons and Squills. My Design in advancing this is, to shew the Probability of the Production of Tea, not only in the Kingdoms of the East Indies, such as China, Japan, Chian, Nanquin, and Cham; but also, according to the Conjecture of Trigautius, in the European Woods and Forests: And I am the more inclined to this Opinion, because the celebrated Olearius informs us, that the Tartars of Uzbeck, who, according to De Laet. in Descript. Persiæ, Cap. 1. are separated from the Persians, wage War upon them, and export Tea from Cattajo into Persia: Besides, Gulielmus Leyl, a Gentleman, not only of Distinction, but also of untainted Veracity, informs me, in his Letter, that in Java the greater, Macassar, and Celibes, he was told by the Inhabitants, that Cha or The grows in China and Catajo; but that the best is, by the Tartars, exported from the latter of these Places, Now, it is sufficiently known, that Tartary, on account of the Elevation of the Pole, in many Respects, agrees with the European Provinces, situated under the same Degree of Elevation; so that, it is by no means absurd to assert that many Trees, Shrubs, and Herbs, should thrive as well in these Northern Provinces, as in Tartary, which, like them, is diversified with Precipices, Forests, Mountains, Pasture-Grounds, Vallies, and Rivers. In a word, as Tulpius and Trigautius think that neither Tea, nor its Use, were long known to the Chinese, because they had neither any antient Names for it, nor Hieroglyphics to express its Nature; I am more and more confirmed, that Cha, or The, grows more plentifully in Catajo than in China itself, especially since Olearius and Leyl inform us, that Cha is a Tartarian Word; and, according to the latter of these Authors, only some of the Chinese, who live upon the Shore, have begun to call Cha, Te. Since, therefore, the Europeans frequent China, or its adjacent Islands, much more than they do Tartary, and since the Chinese call the Cha of the Tartars The, it is probable, that this is the Original of the Word Tea in Europe, But it is to be observed, that Tulpius asserts, that, the Tchia of the Japonese, is far more valuable than the Thee of the Chinese; since a Pound of the former is sometimes sold at an Hundred Libræ of Silver, which, if I am not mistaken, amount to forty Crowns. But Trigautius affirms, that a Pound of the Chinese is sold at one Noble, and at most for two or three; whereas, a Pound of the best Japonese is often sold at ten or twelve. Father Rhodius tells us, that Tea is no where produced, except in two Provinces of China, Nanquin and Chim; and immediately subjoins, That there was such Plenty of it, that it sold at a very low Rate: Though these Accounts are inconsistent with each other, yet it is none of my Business to reconcile them; since my Design is only to shew, that the Cha, the Tchia, or Thee, whether a Species of Copse, or an Herb, is indigenous to Tartary. Now, as Tulpius and Trigautius have shewn, that Tea has not been long known to the Chinese; and, as Olearius and Leyl assert, that it is exported from Tartary into Persia, as well as China, I am of Opinion, that it probably began to be known in China when the Tartars in 1644 made an Incursion into that Country, and that it was first transported into Europe from the East-Indies. And though the Authors mentioned by Olearius affirm, that the Thee of the Chinese was known before this Incursion; yet as the Tartars had several Times before laid China waste, it is not improbable, but the Chinese were, by the Tartars, with whom I believe it is cheap, first taught the Use of Tea, as we were by the Chinese: For if, according to Tulpius, Tea is sold at so great a Rate in China, or, if a Pound of the best Tea is often sold at twelve Nobles in Japan, I cannot see how the Merchants of Amsterdam and Hamburg, who may reasonably be allowed a fourth of Profit, could afford a Pound for eight Nobles. Since, therefore, Tartary is a very extensive Kingdom; and since, in some Provinces of it, the Tea of the Chinese grows, I think it very probable, that the same Tea may be found in the similar, heathy, copsy, and uncultivated Places of Europe. We now come to enquire, whether Tea is an Herb, or a Kind of Copse: Besides the Authors, therefore, already quoted from Olearius, as affirming that it is an Herb, Bontius, Varenius, Olearius, Johannes Albertus von Mandelslo, and Leyl, also call it an Herb: But Trigautius and Rhodius pronounce it a Kind of Copse, or small Shrub. If, therefore, we are swayed in our Judgment by the Plurality of Voices, we must infallibly conclude Tea to be an Herb. But as, in all Cases, one Eye-Witness is better than ten who take Things upon Report; and as the two last-mentioned Authors travelled through the East-Indies, it is more reasonable to trust to their Descriptions, than to those of the others, who, being no professed Botanists, were, in some measure, misled by botanical Authors, who too often confound Words, as we have shewn in the Dissertation on Tobacco: However, to reconcile these Differences, we say, that Tea may be defined and described, either as an Herb, or as a Kind of Copse, or small Shrub; for as Geographers, in their Descriptions of Nova Zembla, and the Terra Australis incognita, make Conjectures about some Things which they never saw, because they were never there; so, why may not I, though I never was in Asia, make an Attempt to delineate an Asiatic Plant, which is the Herb, or Shrub, Tea, in order to prevent that excessive Import of it, which corrupts our Regimen, and impairs our Health no less than the Tobacco sent us from America? Now, though Asia furnishes the Chinese with Tea, as a salutary Medicine, yet she obtrudes it upon us, at the same Time we are ignorant what it is; for which Reason I shall describe Tea, both as an Herb, and as a Kind of Copse, or small Shrub. "Tea, therefore, as an Herb, has oblong Leaves, acuminated, crenated about the Edges, and about an Inch long, and half an Inch broad. In China these Leaves are of a dark green Colour, and of a bitter Taste; whereas those produced in Japan, are of a fainter Green, and more grateful Taste, tinging any Liquor with the same Colour. These Leaves, when dried, become black, and shrivelled up, like small Worms, and the Herb has a fibrous Root, divided into many small Shreds." If any should tell me, that this seems to be a Description of Betony, I answer, so it is; and I would rather perswade the Europeans to use this Herb, possessed of numberless known Virtues, than to persist in the Use of the unknown Tea of the Chinese, purchased at a great Expence, and calculated for impoverishing Families. It is indeed certain, that, as the moderate Use of it, without producing a preter-natural Heat, conforts and dries the Brain, and whole nervous System, so the immoderate Use of it, cannot fail to be equally noxious to the Europeans as the Abuse of Wine. Tea, as a Kind of Copse, or small Shrub, may be described in the following Manner: "Tea is a small Shrub, greatly resembling the Myrtle-Bush, with dark green Leaves, as large as those of the Pomegranate, but with small Incisions about the Edges, like those observable in the Leaves of the Daisy. These Leaves are carefully collected in the Spring, dried in a Shade, or in proper Furnaces, and preserved in pretty large Vessels, close stopped, in order to prevent the free Access of the Air." If any one should find fault with me for describing Tea, both as an Herb, and as a Kind of Copse, or small Shrub; I can vindicate myself, by desiring him to compare each of these Descriptions with the different Accounts given by all the before-cited Authors, whose Veracity cannot be called in Question. But, perhaps, it may be objected, that Bontius asserts, that Tea is an Herb, and describes it as such, and consequently, that I corrupt what I intended to correct, which happened to Epicurus, attempting to rectify the Doctrines of Democritus: I answer, that Bontius, through an Affectation of laconic Brevity, darkened his Description of Tea, by comparing its Leaves, which are crenated, to those of the Daisy, which have small Incisions: Whereas, he might, with more Justice, have compared them to the Leaves of any Shrub, or Copse: But the Reader will, possibly, condemn me for Pyrrhonism, or Scepticism, and upbraid me with treating of Things, without coming to any fixed and final Conclusion. But, in answer to this Charge, I affirm, in the Words of Vossius de Sect. Philosoph. Cap. 20. "That Scepticism is not absolutely to be condemned; since, though many Things are certain, yet far more are uncertain; and these latter combined and interwoven with the former, impose on the Mind by their Similitude to Truth; so that it is necessary to use all Diligence in distinguishing Truth from Error." Cicero, in Lib. 1. de Natur. Deor. professes himself of the same Opinion: "I am none of those, says he, to whom nothing appears true; but I affirm, that Truth and Falshood are sometimes so intimately mixed, and bear so near a Resemblance to each other, that there is hardly any Criterion for distinguishing them." But, leaving all dubious Ratiocinations, we shall now declare our Sentiments in an explicit Manner, and come to a fixed and determinate Conclusion. For this Purpose, let us compare the Descriptions which Dodonæus gives us of the Herb Betony, and of the Shrub Chamelæagnus, with those two I have given of the Chinese Tea: I am then intirely free from Partiality, when I think that the Properties ascribed to these two, especially to the Chamelæagnus, exactly agree to the Chinese Tea; nor, considering how far I am advanced in Years, do I care how much I may be ridiculed for maintaining such an Opinion, since I have long ago formed my Mind upon those noble and exalted Sentiments, which Epictetus, in Enchirid. Cap. 29. expresses in the following beautiful Manner: "If thou inclinest to commence the Study of Wisdom and Virtue, thou must forthwith prepare thyself for future Reproach and Contempt, since many will hiss thee, upbraid thee with becoming a Philosopher all on a sudden, and sneeringly ask the Reason of thy supercilious Air: Do thou, in the mean time, guard against a supercilious Behaviour, as much as thou possibly canst; but, like a faithful Centinel, placed in a particular Post by thy Master, rigidly maintain and adhere to those Things which, to thee, appear best and most praise-worthy; and, for thy Comfort, remember this, that if thou resolutely keepest thy Post, thou wilt, at last, become the Admiration of those who before derided thee: Whereas, if thou shamefully quittest thy Station, and succumbest to the heedless and unthinking Herd, thou wilt be doubly derided." But, as moral Reflections may be thought impertinent on such Occasions, we shall return to our Subject. Dodonæus, therefore, in Pemptad. 1. Lib. 2. Cap. 20. tells us, "that Betony has oblong, broad, and green Leaves, somewhat rough, serrated about the Edges, and resembling those of the Oak, though somewhat smaller." Now, Tulpius informs us, that the Leaves of Tea are oblong, acuminated and serrated about the Edges: And Olearius affirms, that they are about an Inch in Length, and half an Inch in Breadth. Tulpius also asserts, that in China, they are of a dark green Colour; whereas, in Japan, they are of a fainter Colour; so that these Descriptions quadrate very exactly with Betony. The Chamelæagnus is, by Dodonæus, in Stirp. Histor. Pemptad. 6. Cap. 20. described in the following Manner: "The Chamelæagnus is a small and low Shrub, rarely rising to the Height of a Cubit: It sends forth some Branches, which bear small, broad, and oblong Leaves, not unlike those of the Myrtle, but harder, and frequently longer: All the Parts of the Shrub, and especially its Seeds, are somewhat odorous: It delights in wild and uncultivated Soils, which are somewhat marshy and aqueous." The Authors before quoted, have made no Mention, either of the Seeds, or Flowers; nor, though I have had an Opportunity of turning over large Quantities of Tea, have I ever found any Part of a Flower, Stem, Apex, Calyx, Down, Seed, Pods of Seed, Berries, or any Thing analogous to any of these, except some few Pieces, of a Kind of arundinacious Grass; from which we may justly infer, that the Chinese Tea delights in uncultivated, aqueous, and marshy Soils, as well as the European Chamelæagnus; which, as described by Dodonæus, exactly resembles the Tea of the Chinese. The Reasons why I have compared Tea to Betony, are sufficiently obvious; since my Accounts of the former, taken from Trigautius, Rhodius, and Bontius, exactly agree to the latter; for Trigautius affirms, that the Leaves called Tea, when gathered from a certain Shrub, and boiled in Water, afford that celebrated Liquor, so much used by the Chinese, Japonese, and their neighbouring Nations: And Rhodius asserts, that the Leaves of Tea are, in a great measure, like those of the Myrtle, and, in Bulk, equal to those of the Pomegranate. I have, in a particular Manner, mentioned the Crenations of the Leaves, because no such Circumstance is specified, either by Dodonæus, in his Description of the Chamelæagnus, or by Trigautius and Rhodius, in their Accounts of the Leaves of Tea, which, according to Olearius, are about an Inch long, half an Inch broad, and, when dried, assume a blackish Colour, all which Circumstances hold true of the Chamelæagnus. Tulpius informs us, that the Leaves of Tea are of a dark green Colour, oblong, acuminated, and crenated about the Edges; and Bontius describes them with small Incisions about the Edges, like those of the Daisy: Besides, if the Reader compares what Dodonæus advances, with respect to the native Soil of the Chamelæagnus, with the Description I have given of it, he will find it probable that it is also produced in Tartary; so that we have just Reason to conclude, that the Cha of the Tartars, and Thee of the Chinese, are nothing else but the European Chamelæagnus. Another Analogy is also to be observed between the Leaves of Tea, and those of the Chamelæagnus, which is, that only the larger Leaves of each of them are crenated. If it should be objected, that Dodonæus inclined to insinuate, that the Leaves of the Chamelæagnus are like those of the Myrtle; and that the Leaves of the true Myrtle are not crenated: I answer, that I am sufficiently apprised of this; but, at the same time, would have the Objector remember, that Caspar Bauhine finds some Things wanting in the Figure of the Chamelæagnus, exhibited in the Latin Edition of Dodonæus, and for that Reason, prefers the Figure in the Dutch Edition to it. His Description is also very defective, since he neither mentions the Crenation of the Leaves, nor the Sporting of Nature, which are very material Points; since the Leaves are not all crenated in the same Manner, and sometimes not crenated at all, especially at the Points, till they have arrived at a certain Age and Bulk. Similar Sportings of Nature are frequently to be observed; since, in one and the same Mallow, it often happens, that one Leaf is not like another. There is also a surprizing Variety, both in the Form and Number of the Leaves of the Eupatorium Canadense Foliis Enulæ Jacobi Cornuti of the Lysimachia Lutea Major and Minor, and of the Pseudolysimachia. It is also sufficiently known, that the Peruvian Flower in Europe, varies every Day considerably from the same Flower in Peru; but we are not, for this Reason, to deny that they both belong to the same Species. Thus, though in Europe, there is a Kind of Sporting of Nature in the Leaves of the Chamelæagnus; yet all these Leaves, when most accurately compared with the Tartarian or Chinese Tea, are only found to differ inconsiderably from them in Size, Colour, and Crenations: So that we may conclude, that the Shrub Chamelæagnus belongs to the same Species with the Tea of the Tartars and Chinese: But, lest my own Authority should be questioned, I shall, from that of other Botanists, prove this surprizing Variation in our own Chamelæagnus. I am indeed sorry that the Chamelæagnus is not sufficiently and fully treated of, either in the last Edition of Tabernemontanus, or in the Ebrodunense Herbarium. But we must supply this Defect from Bauhine, who, in Pinax. 40. Lib. 11. Sect. 4. tells us, "That the Rhus Myrtifolia Belgica, or Chamelæagnus, has its Leaves sometimes broad, and sometimes narrow; and I have been told by Dr. Backmaster, that its Leaves are sometimes crenated like those of a Shrub; such as the Rosemary of the Northern Nations, or our own Myrtle." In 1622, when walking in a Copsy Field, near Rostock, I broke off a small Twig of this Chamelæagnus in the Spring, before it was in the Flower. This I carefully preserved till it was fully dry, and found the Leaves exactly to resemble those of the Chinese Tea, in Tenderness, Size, Colour, and Crenations. But that this Affinity and Resemblance might be still farther evinced, I have, in Quadripartit. Botan. given a Cut of one of the tender Leaves of the Chamelæagnus, gathered in the Spring, and another of a full grown Leaf, gathered in the Summer; and to these I have added two Cuts of Tea Leaves, produced in China: But, some may object, that the Chinese Tea differs from the Chamelæagnus, because, according to Rhodius, the Leaves of the former appear in the Beginning of the Spring at Nanquin and Chim; and, when dried, are so far from resembling Leaves, that they rather seem to be small Buds or Gems of Shrubs, or Trees: Whereas, the Branches of our Chamelæagnus are not cut, till the Middle, or latter End of the Summer, and are negligently hung up in the Shops, with the Leaves, Seeds, and Flowers. These Circumstances, I confess, must produce a considerable Difference in these Leaves, not only with respect to Colour and Smell, but also, perhaps, with respect to Qualities and Virtues. If I should be asked, whether it is expedient to recommend the Chamelæagnus as a Succedaneum, to the Chinese Tea? I answer, it is highly expedient. If it should be said, that it affects the Head; I reply, so does Betony, which procures a certain Hilarity, or Agility, to the Brain and Members, by which Means, it greatly invigorates the Animal Faculty: For this specific Quality of Tea, it is so much used by Statesmen, in order to render them brisk and active, for the Discharge of their Offices: For this Class of Men, as well as Physicians, are allowed Angular and uncommon Indulgences by Plato, in Lib. 3. de Republica. "The Gods, says he, can obtain no good End by lying to Mortals; but, a Lie may be useful to sick Persons; for which Reason Lying is pardonable in Physicians, immediately employed in their Business, but not at all in Persons of a private Character. In Governors also, Lying is pardonable, when it has a Tendency, either to promote the Good of their Subjects, or frustrate the Designs of their Enemies." Some affirm, that Ale, prepared with the Chamelæagnus, excites violent Head-achs, from which they infer, that its Sulphur is injurious to the Head: But I would have such Persons remember, that the best Things may be used to Excess. Thus a Pain is immediately produced in the Head, by the Abuse of the Wine of the Rubus Idæus, or that in which the Pimpinella Sanguisorba has been macerated. Hence, if you mix but a small Quantity of the Chamelæagnus, full of its Seeds, with Ale, such Ale will speedily intoxicate those who drink it; but if you put only a few of the Leaves to the Ale, it will revive the Spirits as effectually as the Asiatic Tea. At the Hague, Sinapi is called Senney, and in the Netherlands, Mustard; but this Change of Names does not hinder Sinapi from being an Herb of the same Species in these different Parts. In Europe we are to have a due Regard to the most commodious Time of gathering the Leaves of the Chamelæagnus, which, in Asia, is the Spring, and after they are gathered, we are carefully to keep them in large, close-stopped Vessels. Besides, we are to consider, that the Climates of Asia and Europe differ very widely; though I have shewn, that from the same Elevation of the Pole, some Northern Countries have a Climate, not much unlike to that of the Tartars. But some may say, granting that the Chamelæagnus, or Myrtus Nostras Sylvestris, is really the Cha of the Tartars, and the The of the Chinese and Persians; yet it never arrives at such Perfection in any Part of Europe, as in Tartary or China: This, perhaps, I may grant, with respect to China, but not with respect to Tartary, for the Reasons before specified, and on account of the Climate, which, it is to be suspected, produces Tea of little or no Value; for it is not so much as mentioned in the following Account of the Tartars, and their Herbs, given by Antonius Maginus, in Comment. Nov. Geograph. "The Tartars live in a most sordid, nasty Manner; since only a very few of them use Table-Cloths and Napkins at their Meals: They drink Water, Milk, and Ale prepared of Millet. Very little Wine is produced in their Country; and with that which is imported they intoxicate themselves, which is with them considered as an honourable and glorious Thing. They commend the Juice or Milk of Sorrel, because it corroborates the Stomach, and proves purgative at the same Time. They chearfully eat various Herbs, especially such as grow near the Tanais, among which they greatly extol an Herb called Baltracan, which greatly nourishes them, and restores their Strength. At the Season, therefore, when this Herb bears Fruit, the Tartars freely wander through these Desarts, in which no other Kind of Food or Aliment is to be found; for, if they can provide nothing else, this Herb, which they frequently find, and carry home on Carts and Horses, proves sufficient for their Sustenance." But I shall proceed to contemplate our Chamelæagnus, with greater Accuracy. It is, therefore, certain, that Iceland, a cold and harsh Climate, produces the best Angelica in all Europe; and Norway, which is somewhat milder, though intolerably cold in the Winter, yet affords those large Quantities of Gentian, and other medicinal Herbs, which the Traders in Germany and Holland have annual Occasion for. It is therefore probable, that our Chamelæagnus may also be possessed of very singular medicinal Virtues; and, that it is so, we shall afterwards fully demonstrate. If it should be objected, that the Chinese and Tartarian Teas have become famous, but not the European Chamelæagnus; I answer, that the Objection has no Foundation in Reason; because the Qualities and Temperaments of Medicines are not altered by the Time at which they began to be in Repute: Thus the Angelica of Iceland, and the Norvegian Gentian are celebrated in Europe; and tho' it is not to be doubted, but Tartary, and other Countries, lying under the same Elevation of the Pole, produce Angelica and Gentian equally good, yet these Medicines are not there celebrated, because the Inhabitants have not ventured upon the Use of them. Thus, the perfumed Gloves sent us from Greece, are more esteemed than those smelling of Amber, Musk, Stacte, and Cassia, sent us from Italy, and Spain, only because they were famed before these latter Countries began to use such a Practice; such, and so great, is the Tyranny of Opinion, and the Force of Custom! It is, therefore, merely an ill-grounded Opinion, to believe that our Chamelæagnus is inferior in Virtues to the Chinese or Tartarian Tea; or that it is to be neglected, and not introduced into the Shops. Nor is it reasonable to infer, that it is not the Chinese Tea, because it has never been prepared in their Manner; or that it ought not to be substituted in its stead, because it has hitherto been little known, and only used by a few instead of Hops. Tho' I am always willing to yield to superior and more powerful Reasons, yet I cannot help thinking, that our Chamelæagnus may be very commodiously substituted to the Chinese Tea. Thus the Scordium of Crete is generally thought the best of all others, for no other Reason, but that it grows there. The Germans and Danes, however, ceased to import it from Crete and Venice, after they discovered the true Scordium, and found large Quantities of it produced in Lapland, which also yielded great Plenty, not inferior to that of Asia; so that we despise the Asiatic, in comparison of our own. Thus, also, when we found from Experience, that the Qualities of our common Wormwood, were not inferior to those of the Wormwood brought from Pontus and Rome, we ceased to bring it from these Places, and wisely used our own. Hoffman, in Lib. 2. de Med. Offic. §. 5. tells us, "That these European Mountains which are most exposed to a free Air, produce the wild or common Wormwood; whereas, those of the Pontic and Roman Kinds, are only to be found in Gardens." But how opposite is our Conduct with respect to Tea, which, at great Expence and Trouble, we bring from Asia, when large Quantities of it are produced in Europe? It is certainly unaccountable, and an unpardonable Folly, for a Man, who is rich at Home, to go Abroad and beg: Now, we are equally foolish, for despising that Plenty we have at Home, and purchasing, at a great Price, the Chinese Tea, when its Virtues are almost destroyed, as I shall afterwards demonstrate. Some Persons may, perhaps, reject my Sentiments, unless they found an exact Agreement between the Decoctions of Chinese and Tartarian Tea, and the Chamelæagnus, in Colour, Taste, Smell, and other Qualities; and I doubt not in the least, but they would find this Agreement, provided our Chamelæagnus was gathered at a proper Season, treated in the same Manner with the Chinese Tea, and prepared in the Method used by them. I would have tried Experiments of this Kind, had not I wrote this Treatise in the Winter Season; but I thought a Delay of its Publication might be attended with bad Consequences; since all Europe has large Sums of Money annually drained from it by the Asiatic Tea, I therefore obtest, not only all Physicians, but also others, fairly to examine, whether my Sentiments and Reasonings on this Particular are true, or only probable; for most Truths, according to Cicero, have the Disadvantage to be blended with Falshood and Error. But some Persons may say I advance many Things without establishing any. I own it is so; for I am like the Images of Mercury set up by the Highways of the Antients, which pointed out the Road to others, without ever entering it themselves. Perhaps practical Physicians may blame me for making the Chamelæagnus a Succedaneum for the Chinese Tea; since it is sufficiently known that the former greatly affects the Head. I own, indeed, I am subject to Error and Mistake, as well as other Mortals: But I would have these Physicians consider, that Trigautius and Rhodius affirm, that the Leaves of Tea resemble those of the Myrtle. Now, the Leaves of the Chamelæagnus, when arrived at their full Growth in the Summer, are so like those of the Myrtle, except that these last are crenated at the Points, that the one cannot be distinguished from the other. They also produce an Effect similar to those of the Myrtle; we must therefore compare the Chinese Tea, the true Myrtle, and the Chamelæagnus, with one another, in order, from this Comparison, to ascertain and determine the Virtues and Faculties of the Leaves of each of them. The Virtues and Faculties, then, of Tea, according to Tulpius, are these following: "It renders the Body vigorous, and removes nephritic Pains, to which none of the Chinese are, for this very Reason, obnoxious. It carries off Pains and Stuffings of the Head, Inflammations of the Eyes, Defluxions, Difficulty of Breathing, Weakness of the Stomach, Gripings of the Intestines, and Weariness: It also prevents Sleep, heats moderately, and by constricting the Mouth of the Stomach, hinders the Vapours from ascending to the Head. This Liquor, when drank warm, Trigautius thinks highly salutary in a great many Cases." Though I do not deny these Things, yet, when the Chinese assert, that nothing is more conducive to the protracting of Life to an extreme old Age than Tea, they run into an Hyperbole, no less glaring and ostentatious than that of Cicero, when describing his own Return, in L. Calphurn. Pis. "Rome herself, says he, seemed to move from her Foundation, in order to contemplate her returning Guardian and Preserver, whom she received with such unbounded and universal Joy, that even the Walls and Temples of the City seemed to rejoice." This Happiness of the Chinese, is intirely owing to other Causes; for their Air is clement, and their Regimen so temperate, as, almost, to come up to that of the Pythagoreans; though the Tartars cannot boast either of such a Climate, or such Moderation. But, with the Europeans, a fuller and more copious Diet is used, which is therefore productive of more Diseases: Hence, the incomparable Bartholine, in Consil. Med. de Cometa. gives the Europeans a most salutary Advice, by recommending a spare and slender Diet, and condemning a full and copious Regimen: "Moderate eating of Flesh, says he, is to be injoined; since Excess, in this Respect, is the Origin of violent Putrefaction, and various Disorders. Thus Diogenes apud Porphyr. in Lib. I. de Abstinen. used to say, that those who eat much were generally Thieves, and Soldiers; and such as eat Flesh were Sycophants and Tale-Bearers. Hence the Quadragesimal Fast, in Concil. Laodicen. Canon. 50. is ordered to be kept with Bread, Salt, and Water, as Christoph. Justellus explains the Word Ξηροφαγία from Epiphanius:" Hence the eating little Flesh, but somewhat more Broth, is conducive to the Preservation of Health: So that the slender, spare Diet of the Asiatics protracts their Lives to extreme old Age; whereas, the full and luxurious Regimen of the Europeans, cuts them off, before the natural Period of their Life is expired: So happy a Tendency have a clement Air, and a proper Regimen, if not to protract Life, yet, at least, to preserve Health, and prevent Diseases. Not only Tea, which we have from the East, but also Chocolate, which is imported from the West Indies, begins to be famous: With respect to this latter Commodity, the Reader may consult Antonius Colmerus de Ledesma, whose Work is translated from Spanish into Latin, by Marcus Aurelius Severinus. But I proceed in the History of Tea, which is possessed of admirable Qualities; since, according to Rhodius, "It relieves the Head, prevents Vapours, and is a Specific against the Hemicrania; since, when he was afflicted with this, or any other Disorder of the Head, he was, by drinking Tea, immediately relieved. It also prevents Sleep, corroborates the Stomach, purges the Kidnies from Stones and Gravel; and, according to Varenius, is of singular Efficacy in removing the Uneasiness arising from previous Surfeits, and all pituitous Disorders." Olearius also affirms, that it is possessed of constrictive and astringent Quality, and is highly salutary to the Stomach, Lungs, Liver, Blood, and all the human Viscera, which it deterges and corroborates; that it expels the Stone, removes Head-achs, and dries up all superfluous and redundant Homours, which occasion Laziness and Drowsiness. Johannes Albertus von Mandelslo informs us, that the Water impregnated with Tea, is not only much admired by the Indians, but also highly esteemed by the Dutch, who frequently use it for evacuating Phlegm, corroborating the Stomach, heating and strengthening all the Viscera; and that he was convinced, that by drinking three Times a-day, large Quantities of Tea, which is of an astringent Quality, he was freed from a violent Uneasiness and Diarrhœa at Surat. Gulielmus Leyl asserts, that it corroborates the Stomach, and assists its concoctive Powers, heats the Members, and removes all excrementitious Humours, which it expels by Urine, or in some other Manner; that it removes the Gravel and Gout, as he experienced in himself, when Governor of the Camp of Danisburg, in the Island of Cormandel, in the East Indies; that he was racked with the Gout upon his Return into Europe; that Tea removes Intoxication, renders Men active in transacting Business, and prevents Sleep. Though I do not in the least doubt of the Truth of these Assertions, yet I shall prove, that the true Myrtle, is possessed of the same, and other excellent Qualities; since it not only seems to be, but really is, a Species of Tea. If, therefore, the Leaves of the Danish and German Myrtle, called Chamelæagnus, vary much among themselves, and greatly resemble Tea, may we not conclude, that the Leaves of Tea, the Myrtle, and the Chamelæagnus, also agree in Virtues and Qualities. This is what I now intend to evince. Hippocrates, therefore, in order to shew the Efficacy of the Myrtle in curing and removing Diseases, in Lib. de Superfætat, Sect. 3. tells us, that when the Mouth of the Uterus is præternaturally constricted, it is opened by a Suffumigation, for which Purpose, among other Things, he orders green Myrtle Leaves contused. He prescribes them green, and not dry, because the former most abound with Sulphur and volatile Parts; whereas the latter contain little of these; but, on account of their terrestrial, and somewhat hot Parts, are violently drying; for which Crasis and Diversity of Parts, as Myrtle is but gently, or hardly, hot at all, Galen calls it cold. This Effect, therefore, mentioned by Hippocrates, evinces, that Myrtle consists of very subtle Parts, and is of a highly drying Quality. I am surprized, that the Writers of the Chinese History, have not determined, whether Tea was beneficial for both Sexes. The same Hippocrates, in Lib. 1. de Morb. Mulieb. Sect. 5. Ver. 6. among other Things proper for expelling a corrupted Fœtus, prescribes Myrtle-Berries, Sweet Flag, and Lentiles, boiled in Wine, and, a little after, he recommends Pessary of the Leaves of Myrtle for the same Purpose: And in Lib. de Natur. Muliebr. Sect. 5. he orders the Fruit of the Black Myrtle macerated in Water, and mixed up with fine Flower, to be exhibited as a Medicine for rendering the Body soluble, and opening the Uterus. Galen also, in Lib. 7. Med. Simpl. informs us, "That Myrtle consists of contrary and heterogeneous Substances, that a cold and terrestrial Principle, however, predominates in it, notwithstanding which, it has a certain subtile Heat, in consequence of which, it is of an highly drying Nature: That the Leaves, the Buds, the Fruit, and the Juice, have different Degrees of Astringency; that the dried Leaves are more exsiccant than such as are green; and that all Parts of the Plant are of an astringent Quality, whether used internally or externally." The same Author, in Lib. 2. de Aliment. Facultat. Cap. 18. affirms, that, like the Fruit of the Juniper, it nourishes little, though it is possessed of a contrary Quality: "For, says he, it is highly astringent; and, for that Reason, stops Fluxes; but its Coldness does not bear a Proportion to the Degree of its Astringency." (Circumstances which ought to be carefully adverted to in investigating the Virtues of Tea, the Myrtle, and the Chamelæagnus) "because it is not only astringent, but also possessed of a certain Acrimony. Besides, it is peculiar to all Aliments, possessed of a strong medicinal Quality, to lose that Quality," (which Words I would have the Reader carefully observe) "by boiling, roasting, or Maceration; after which they afford but little Nourishment, and before none at all: This holds true in Onions and Leeks." Diascorides, in Lib. 1. Cap. 156, tells us, "That the Myrtle and its Seeds are of an astringent Quality; and, that the Juice expressed from the green Berries, produces the same Effects, is beneficial to the Stomach, creates a Discharge of Urine, and cures the Bites of venomous Spiders and Scorpions, if drank in Wine." He also informs us, that there are two Kinds of Myrtles, in like Manner as there are two Kinds of Tea, sent into Europe, by the Chinese. Athenæus, in Deipnosophist. Lib. 15. tells us, "That such of the Greeks as were afflicted with Head-achs by drinking too much Wine at their Feasts, stood in need of a Remedy for their Disorder, which, by a certain Instinct of Nature, they knew to be most expeditiously removed by Bundles of Flowers, and especially by Garlands wore on the Head; for, according to Andreas, when any one was seized with an Head-ach, his Pain was forthwith alleviated by tying it tight up:" (This may be accounted for from Harvey's late Discovery of the Circulation of the Blood) "For this Reason they swathed the Heads of those who had drank to Excess, with a Crown wove of an hederaceous Plant, which is plentifully produced without any Culture, which is sufficiently beautiful, and throws a grateful Shade over Forehead and Eyes. For this Reason such Crowns seem to have been dedicated to Bacchus, who both invented Wine, and was supposed to remove the Disorders produced by it: But, in process of Time, Mankind became so voluptuous, that they were not content to have the Effects of Drunkenness removed by this Disorder; but also sought to gratify their Smell and Eyes. Then they began to use a Crown of Myrtle, which is astringent, and dispels the Exhalations of Wine, or a Garland of Roses, which, in some measure, alleviates the Pain of the Head, and cools those who are overheated by excessive Drinking: But over their Cups, they never used the Laurel, which is heating, and of a disagreeable Smell: They also rejected Violets, which by their Smell offend the Head, and every other Thing, which could either create Uneasiness, or produce Obstructions." And afterwards, he declares himself of Philonis's Opinion, in the following Words: "But I am intirely of the Sentiments of Philonis, who affirmed, that a Crown of Myrtle dispelled the Vapours of Wine, and a Garland of Roses refrigerated and alleviated the Pain of the Head." Bodæus, a Stapelen. in Comment. Lib. 4. Hist. Plant. Theophr. informs us, from Clemens Alexandrinus, "that the Myrtle was efficacious for exciting Laughter, which is represented as the Concomitant of Venus:" And he adds, that Myrtle was supposed to be so grateful to this Goddess, that all who celebrated her Festivals, were adorned with Crowns of it. The same Author, from Athenæus informs us, that the Lesbians crowned themselves with Wreaths of Myrtle Twigs, which they called Hypothymidæ; because, as he tells us, they refreshed and revived the Brain by their grateful Fragrance. Those who desire to know more concerning the Virtues of the Myrtle, may consult the Histor. Plantar. Universal. Ebrodunens. Herbarior. Lib. 5. Cap. 1. where, what we have advanced, is farther confirmed, or similar Qualities of the Myrtle ascertained. But we proceed to enquire into the Virtues and Qualities of the Myrtus Brabantica, or Chamelæagnus. Though a great deal is not said of this Plant, which Bauhine calls the Rhus Myrtifolia Belgica, either by the antient or modern Botanists; yet that it is possessed of singular Virtues, is evinced from this, that Pliny, in Lib. 24. Cap. 11. informs us, that the Herb called Rhus, which, according to Clusius and Dodonæus, is our Chamelæagnus, expels Poison, and cures scalled Heads; a signal Proof, that whether green, or dry, it abounds with a singular volatile Salt and Sulphur; which is also farther confirmed, partly by its acrid, tho' not ungrateful Smell, and partly by the Effects it produces. This is sufficiently confirmed by the Authority of Dodonæus, who speaks of its Qualities and Virtues in the following Manner: "Its Seeds, says he, are intensely hot and dry, almost in the third Degree: Its Leaves are also hot and dry, though in a much smaller Degree: Its Fruit, which is prejudicial to the Brain, when used in preparing Ale, which is customary with many, renders the Ale highly offensive to the Head, and soon productive of Intoxication or Drunkenness. The whole Shrub, and its Fruit, when dried, and laid among Clothes, preserve them from Moths and Worms." It also banishes Dormice, as I have observed in my Quadripartit. Botan. Besides, a certain Person of great Distinction in Holstein, and a Man of the strictest Veracity, informs me, that the Polanders use our Chamelæagnus for killing the Lice of their Hogs; for, if this Plant is strewed under them in their Styes, the Lice which infest them will be destroyed in a few Hours; nor will their Nits ever become alive. Besides, Serpents are never found to have their Holes in those Forests, which produce the Chamelæagnus, nor are they ever observed to come near it, much less to creep through it, as I have been informed by Forest-Keepers of great Veracity. It is not, therefore, to be denied, but the Chamelæagnus is an Herb of singular and excellent Virtues, since it produces these, and a great many other uncommon Effects. Dalechampius, Author of the Herbarum Lugdunense, in Cap. 1. gives us the following Account of it: "The Rhus Sylvestris Dodonæi, and the Rhus Plinii seems to be another Plant, which is by some called the Myrtus, by others the Pseudomyrsine, and the Myrtus Brabantica. It is a low, woody, hard Plant, with many Branches, which bear pretty long Leaves, not unlike those of the Box-Tree. Between the Branches rise many Twigs, bearing, as it were, a great Number of Ears, which are, at first, loaded with many small Flowers, and afterwards with a Congeries of many angular Seeds, full of a certain pingueous Humour, of the same bitter Taste with the Leaves, Flowers, and Fruit, but of a pleasant grateful Smell. The Inhabitants of Roan in Normandy, whose dark and gloomy Forests produce great Quantities of it, call it Piment Royale, as it were Melyssophyllum Regium. The Country People in Summer gather the Branches loaded with the Leaves and Seeds, tie them up in small Bundles, for no other Purpose, but to give Clothes an agreeable Scent, and hinder them from being corroded by Worms and Moths. Its highly bitter Taste evinces that it is remarkably drying and discutient, and that it is in a peculiar Manner adapted to kill and expel Worms, whether exhibited internally, or applied externally: It flowers in the Months of May and June, and bears Fruit in July and August." An anonymous Author, who makes some Additions to Dodonæus, speaks of it in the following Manner: "The Gagel has, in English, the Appellation of Gold from the Gold-coloured Flowers, or the clammy sulphureous Matter lodged between the Seeds and their Husks. Gagel is, by some, esteemed a good Remedy, in all Cases, wherein the true Myrtus is used; but this Opinion is false: The Flowers and the clammy sulphureous Substance lodged between the Seeds, and their Husks, are, by some, accounted good in Consumptions and all other Disorders of the Breast. These are also used in making Gold; others use the whole Plant as an Antidote against Poison. Some put Gagel into Beer instead of Hops; whilst others put it into Must, affirming, that it gives the Wine an agreeable Flavour, without injuring the Brain." These last Words excellently describe those Virtues of the Chamelæagnus, in which it agrees with the Chinese Tea, especially as the Author had before informed us, that, in consequence of its abounding with a viscid, yellowish Dew, or roscid Sulphur, it was of a drying Quality, and that it has hitherto been despised, as an Herb possessed of no other Virtues, than that of intoxicating, when Ale is prepared with it; and certainly, this Effect is to be ascribed to no other Cause, than the large Quantity of Sulphur contained in the Chamelæagnus: But I am sensible, that I am entering upon chymical Principles, which I have fully explained in another Work, when treating of malignant Fevers, and especially the Nature, Genius, and Effects of volatile Salts and Sulphurs. Now, as no one has hitherto contradicted any of my Opinions, I hope this seeming Paradox, with respect to Tea, will meet with the like favourable Reception; for, from the Comparison instituted between the Chinese Tea, and the true Myrtle, it is evident, that they agree, not only in Form, but also in Virtues and Faculties: And as, not only Tea, but also the Chamelæagnus, is like the true Myrtle, and may be used as a Succedaneum to it, we cannot doubt, but the Chamelæagnus is the genuine Cha of the Tartars, or Thee of the Chinese; and as I have sufficiently demonstrated this, I hope the Europeans will not, for the future, be so foolish, as to despise the Tea produced in their own Climate, in comparison of that which is brought from China: Besides, that Tea is nothing else but our Chamelæagnus, may be proved by the following Syllogism.

Whatever Things agree in Form and Virtues, are of the same Species:

The Cha of the Tartars, the Thee of the Chinese, and our Chamelæagnus, agree in Form and Virtues:

Therefore, they are all of the same Species and Kind.

But Physicians may object, that I am still bewildered, and at a Loss; since the Chinese Tea, and our Chamelæagnus, produce different Effects: For, as all the Effects which the Chinese or Indians ascribe to their Tea, seem to arise from the Diversity of its Parts, some of which are moderately warm, others excessively dry, some gross, and some subtle: Hence, both Tea and the true Myrtle, prevent Intoxication; nay, an Infusion of Tea surprizingly keeps those who drink it in China, from sleeping for some Nights. It may, therefore, be objected to me, that the Chamelæagnus is so far from preventing or removing Drunkenness, that it forthwith intoxicates the Person who drinks the Ale in which it has been boiled; but these Effects are as diametrically opposite to each other, as those others are of the Chinese Tea removing an Hemicrania, and Head-achs, and the European Chamelæagnus exciting them: I answer, all this is true; but, at the same time, it is to be remembered, that Galen every where demonstrates, of how great Efficacy, the Diversity of Parts, in a compound Body, is; a memorable Example of which he has given, in Acorns arrived at perfect Maturity, in Tr. de Composit. Medicament. Loc. 1. Lib. 6. I shall not affirm, that this Diversity of Parts alone, is sufficient to account for all the Effects produced by Tea, and the Chamelæagnus: But I am of Opinion, that both considered, with respect to their whole Substance, and the Mixture of Parts peculiar to each, act not so much by their weak Heat, as by their excellent drying Virtues; so that they produce their respective Effects only by their primary or secondary Qualities. But I can easily prove, whence this Disagreement of Qualities derives its Origin. We are, therefore, to consider, that the Chamelæagnus abounds with a Salt, and a glutinous Sulphur, of which, according to Dodonæus, the Seeds and Fruit cannot be destitute: But, I deny that this Sulphur is, in the least, offensive to the Brain and Nerves; and affirm, that like the Wreaths of Myrtles, wore by the Lesbians, it, by its Fragrance, comforts and revives the Brain; for, if it was otherwise, I do not see how Ministers and Ambassadors to the Courts of China, should often, by the Use of Tea, be enabled to attend Business for whole Nights, without sleeping: This Account, however, must either be confirmed, or refuted, by Experience. Diogenes Laertius informs us, that Democritus, when nothing else could be of any Service to him, protracted his Life three Days longer, only by the refreshing Smell of Bread, newly taken from an Oven. Thus, also, the moderate Use of Wine revives, corroborates, and, by its Sulphur, dries the Nerves; which is sufficiently known by Dancers, who frequently bath their Feet in Wine, in order to strengthen them; and by Musicians, who take the same Measures with their Hands: And if other Persons would frequently bathe their Feet and Hands with Wine, impregnated either with Rosemary, Sage, or Betony, it is incredible, how much it would contribute to their Health. Besides, it may happen, that, by this Means, malignant Disorders may be prevented. This Redundance, therefore, of a volatile Sulphur in the Chamelæagnus, which palpably affects the Smell of those who walk in Copsy Ground, disturbs the Brain, intoxicates, and produces Head-achs. Thus, in Wine-Vaults, a Person is intoxicated by drinking, sooner than elsewhere, because the Wine, though contained in close Casks, sends forth sulphureous Exhalations, which escape the Sight. It is certain, that the Tartars import their Cha, or Chamelæagnus, into China; but, it is not, to me, probable, that they prepare it in the same Manner with the Chinese: For, if we consider the Customs and Regimen of the Tartars, we find them intolerably addicted to Drunkenness; notwithstanding which, they are very robust and hardy: Hence, if they eat Herbs crude, and also boiled, as they do their Baltracan, it is probable, they toast their Cha, or dry it, and use it, whether after a Crapula, or not, and whether they are afflicted with a Pain of the Head, or not; provided they are intoxicated with it, as the Country People of Europe are with the Chamelæagnus In order to correct this intoxicating Quality of the Chamelæagnus, the Chinese gather the Leaves in the Spring, and not in the Summer: Now, it is sufficiently certain, from chemical Observations, that the sulphureous Parts of Herbs are easily exhaled. This was well enough known to Galen, since, in Lib. de Aliment. Facultat. Cap. 18. he tells us, that the drastic Qualities of Substances, that is, their saline, sulphureous, and volatile Parts, are corrected, or drawn out by boiling, roasting, or Maceration. Hence, the Chinese toast, or carefully dry their Tea, in a Stove; after which, they macerate it for a Quarter of an Hour in warm Water, but do not boil it, lest, by that Means, it should be deprived of all its Virtues: Thus, it is sufficiently known, that Rhubarb is deprived of its purgative Qualities by toasting it, and Alexandrian Senna by being boiled, and strongly expressed. If, therefore, as I before hinted, the Europeans would imitate the Chinese, they would only use those Leaves of the Chamelæagnus, which are gathered in the Spring; but not the Shrub itself, nor the Flowers, nor Seeds, boiled in Ale instead of Hops; for the Leaves ought only to be macerated: Nor is it probable, that the Chamelæagnus would intoxicate so soon, if it was intirely deprived of its Seeds; for this Effect is produced by the Sulphur which abounds in other Herbs and Shrubs, as well as the Chamelæagnus, and is sometimes more, and sometimes less volatile, or fixed: Thus, the Scent of the Heart of the Moschatella is intirely lost, by being frequently smelled. The Geranium Moschatum also, has this peculiar to itself, that when it appears half withered, it emits no Smell; but sends forth a strong one when gently rubbed between the Hands; for if it should be bruised, the Labour would be lost. Rue also contains so volatile a Sulphur, that, when it is dry, it has almost no Colour, whilst its Seeds are oleous and sulphureous. Wormwood holds a Kind of Medium, consisting of one highly volatile Principle, which greatly affects the Head; for which Reason some would have it washed in warm Water before it is used for the Preparation of the Vinum Absinthites, and another of a more fixed Nature; as also a volatile and fixed Salt: Thus, also, Garlick, Mother of Thyme, and especially the Laurel, abound in Sulphur, as well as the Chamelæagnus, in which, indeed, it is more slowly and difficultly consumed, than in the others. When, in order to investigate the Virtues and Faculties of the Chamelæagnus, I kindled some Part of it, together with the Seeds; it did not burn suddenly, like the Juniper, but slowly, like the Beech, with certain Noises, or Kinds of Explosions, intermixed. The Smoak, which filled the whole Laboratory, was of an acrid Smell, highly resembling that of the kindled Twigs of the Beech: Hence, we infer, that the Chamelæagnus contains a large Quantity of Sulphur and volatile Salt. From these Reasonings and Experiments, I think it is sufficiently obvious, that it is, upon account of the grateful and duly corrected Sulphur of the Chinese Chamelæagnus, that the Brain is so much refreshed, and that Persons who use it in China, can, without any Loss, sit up whole Nights in transacting Business; a memorable Instance of this we have in Alexander Rhodius, who always had Disorders of his Head removed by drinking it: Whereas, the European Chamelæagnus, especially that which is full grown, and abounds with Seeds and Flowers, when boiled in Ale, intoxicates those who drink such Ale, procures Sleep, and excites Head-achs. These Circumstances, when impartially weighed, will vindicate me from Partiality, when I despise the costly Chinese Chamelæagnus, and, in its stead, substitute our own, a Shrub of uncommon and excellent Qualities against Poison, and the Bites of Serpents: Since, according to Pliny, these noxious Animals cannot endure the Smell of it. These Virtues of the Chamelæagnus, we can teach the Asiatics, but can hardly believe that, by Virtue of their Tea, Persons may sit up all Night, without sustaining any Loss.

Every one is convinced that two Kinds of Tea are sold in the Shops, one of a blackish Colour, and the other of a faint Green; the one pretty much, and the other far less crenated: This Variation of the Chinese Tea, I can sufficiently account for; since Tulpius tells us, that the Leaves of the Chinese Tea are of a dark green Colour; whereas those produced in Japan are of a fainter Colour, and more grateful Taste; for which Reason, one Pound of the latter is, in the Indies, frequently sold for an Hundred Libræ of Silver, or, according to Trigautius, only for ten or twelve Nobles. Notwithstanding this, the Shopkeepers of Amsterdam and Hamburg sell a Pound of this Commodity for eight Nobles, as I have often before observed.

I cannot, on this Occasion, forbear recommending the Conduct of Oluis Wormius, who, in his Musæum, Lib. 2. Cap. 14. informs us, that he macerated a certain Quantity of both Kinds of Tea, in warm Water, and found the Leaves of the one, when spread, of a dark green Colour, crenated like Rose-Tree Leaves, oblong, and about an Inch in Length. Mr. Harford, the King's Apothecary, made me a Present of two large Boxes full of Tea, of different Colours: In the one Box, which contained the green, I found neither Stalks, nor Flowers, nor Seeds of the Plant, but only the Leaves; but, in turning over the Bohea Tea, contained in the other Box, I found three Stalks, so nearly resembling those of the Myrtle, that, not only Mr. Harford and I, but also some others, thought that they might be justly accounted the Stalks of the Myrtle: This, in so dubious a Case, is a pretty strong Argument, that Bohea Tea is adulterated with Myrtle, which may, very properly, be substituted, in its stead, or rather exactly agrees with it. This blacker Species of Tea, or Myrtle, is far cheaper among the Indians than the green Kind. The celebrated Olaus Wormius, on account of the vast Diversity in the Leaves of Tea, suspects that the Leaves of some other Plant are often sold in their Stead. This also, as I before observed, often happens with respect to Tobacco. That I might not, however, be charged with Rashness, or falsly accusing the Asiatics of Fraud, I thought it incumbent upon me, attentively to view the Chinese Tea; for which Purpose, I ordered Mr. Harford's two Apprentices, to pick out some of the largest, and most perfect Tea Leaves, to be macerated in warm Water, and then spread and unfolded: Accordingly they shewed me ten, which were neither lacerated, nor torn; and two of the most perfect of which were accurately engraved by Albert Halwey, the King's Engraver. See Histor. Cochlear. 4. Class. Quadripartit. Botantic. These Leaves were of different Shapes and Bulks, but so like those of the Chamelæagnus, that the one could hardly be distinguished from the other. The Leaves of the green Kind seemed to be produced by an Herb, or Shrub, of a quite different Species from the Chamelæagnus, the Leaves of which, when gathered small, and in the Spring, make, in my Opinion, the most genuine Tea.

But though I have before shewn, from the Authority of Bauhine, that the Leaves of one and the same Chamelæagnus, sport and vary considerably from each other; yet, I would not, because this may also probably happen to the Chinese Tea, have any one infer, that, in China, the Tea, which some maintain to be the Cha of the Tartars, is not adulterated. I am, indeed, of Opinion, that it is adulterated, but never either affirmed, or so much as intended to insinuate, that Nature sported and varied so in the Chamelæagnus, either of the Tartars, or Europeans, as to produce Leaves of a different Species: Nor is this Variation, and Sporting of Nature, surprizing in the Chamelæagnus; since it is equally, if not more, palpable, in Prunes of different Colours, Peaches, Apricots, sweet and bitter Almonds, and the Leaves produced by these Trees. I have often carefully viewed and turned over all the three Thousand Plants, with which my Repository is enriched, in order to see whether any of them resembled the spurious Chinese Tea, or that with which the genuine is adulterated; and I found the Leaves of two Shrubs highly similar to those of the spurious Tea: The one is by Carolus Clusius in Lib. 5. Rarior. Plantar. Histor. Cap. 20. called Pyrola quarta Fruticans; and Bauhine, in his Pinax, calls it the Pyrola Frutescens Arbuti Folio: The other is a Shrub, called by Clusius, in Lib. 1. Histor. Plant. Cap. 53, the Spiræa Theophrasti, and by Bauhine, Frutex Spicatus Foliis Salignis Serratus dictus.

As it was expedient to compare my Description of the Chinese Tea with those which Dodonæus gives of the Herb Betony, and the Chamelæagnus; so, in this Place, I think it proper to insert the Descriptions which Clusius has given of the Pyrola Fruticans, and the Spiræa Theophrasti; the former of which he describes in the following Manner: "One Genus of this Plant is sometimes of a shrubby Nature; for new, short, and small Branches springing up every Year, remain firm and green for some Years, and rise above the Earth, till by their own Weight they bend downwards, hide themselves in the Ground, and sometimes send out fibrous Roots. Two, three, or four small carnous Leaves generally grow between the Nods: The superior Parts of these Leaves are of a deep green Colour, and shining, whilst, in Form and Bulk, they almost resemble those of the Chamædaphne, or Laureola, only they are serrated about the Edges, and of an highly drying and bitterish Taste, like the Leaves of the other Species of Pyrolæ." These last Words ought carefully to be adverted to. The same Clusius, in Lib. 1. in Rarior Plantar. Histor. describes the Spiræa in the following Manner: "It rises to about the Height of two Cubits, with small Branches, or Twigs, covered with a reddish Bark. Among these Branches arise, without any Order, numerous, long, and narrow Leaves, resembling those of the Willow, serrated about the Edges, with their superior Surfaces of a faint green, and their inferior as if they were besprinkled with Verdegrease: They are of a drying and kind of bitter Taste." The last Words of this Description are also to be carefully adverted to, since the Leaves of Tea are not only serrated, but also of a drying and bitter Taste. As, therefore, the Pyrola Fruticans of Clusius, and the Spiræa of Theophrastus, and especially the former, are of a drying and bitterish Taste, it is highly probable, that the Chinese Tea may be adulterated with one, or both of these; especially, since they not only greatly resemble each other in Form, but also in Taste. A Cut of one Leaf of the Pyrola, I have annexed to the Description of Scurvy-Grass, in my Quadripartitium, No. 9. and another of a Tea-Leaf, produced in China. As for a Cut of the Spiræa, the Curious may have recourse to Clusius, or they may find one Leaf of it accurately engraved in Plate 2, of this Work; where two Leaves of Chinese Tea are engraved. The larger of these is so like the Spiræa of Theophrastus, both in Length, Breadth, Bulk, the Course of the Veins, and the Disposition of the Crenations, that there is hardly the smallest Possibility of distinguishing the one from the other: But both these Leaves are vastly unlike to that Tea Leaf which, in No. 7. of the last cited Plate, I ordered to be engraved, with the Cochlearia Danica: But the other small uncrenated Leaf is like the Chinese Tea, as the latter is like the Chamelæagnus, which, as I have already observed, sports and varies very surprizingly in its Leaves: This latter, I take to be genuine Tea; whereas, I am of Opinion, that the former, resembling the Spiræa, is spurious. Since, therefore, both Tartary and China, abound with the Pyrola, and the Spiræa of Theophrastus, I think we have just Reason to conclude, that all the Leaves sold among us for Tea, have not been gathered from one Species of Shrub, or Herb, but are adulterated with those of the Pyrola, the Spiræa, or some other Shrub; among which, we may justly reckon the Rhus, or Sumach, on account of the Similarity of its Leaves, Flowers, Taste, and Bulk; though I am sensible, that the celebrated Bauhine, in his Pinax, has placed it among the Species of Agnus Castus, and made it a Kind of intermediate Plant, between the Vitex and Ligustrum, calling it Frutex Spicatus Foliis Salignis serratis. In consequence of this, it seems dubious to what Kind of Shrubs it is principally to be referred: Its Flowers grow in a spicated Order, on the Tops of the Twigs, like those of the Agnus Castus; so that the Spiræa very much resembles the Vitex: But, when the Flowers, and crenated Leaves of the Spiræa, are accurately viewed, we find, that it is more justly referred to the Rhus, or Sumach, than to any other Species of Shrub. As neither Theophrastus, Clusius, nor Bodæus a Stapelen, have mentioned its Virtues, I shall not assert that they agree exactly with these of the Chinese Tea; only, it is highly probable, that the Chinese Tea is adulterated with the Spiræa, either by the Asiatic or European Dealers. Avarice has not only prompted People to this Piece of Fraud, but also to lodge Tobacco in Office-Houses, in order to render it more acrid. In order to evince how like the Chinese, or Japonese Tea is to the Spiræa, I refer the Reader to Tab. 1. Fig. 6, & 7, the former of which is a Leaf of Tea, and the latter that of the Spiræa.

Happening one Day to visit Hieronymus Molmanus, a learned Jesuit, to whom I communicated my Paradox about Tea; that Gentleman, upon my commending Trigautius and Rhodius, ordered me to read Martini Martinii novus Atlas Sinensis, as the best and latest Account of the East Indies, or rather of China. When I found this Work, I was glad to meet with a Description of the Cha, in the Account of the Town Hojechu in Nanquin, in which the Author affirms, that it is no where better and more valuable. Martinius informs us, that the Chinese Tea belongs to the Rhus, and is highly similar to it: But this Rhus, as I have already shewn from Pliny, Clusius, Dodonæus, and Dalechampius, is the same with our Chamelæagnus. Hence, it is not only obvious in itself, but confirmed by the Authority of Martinius, that the Chinese are guilty of Fraud and Imposture in adulterating their Tea.

The Description which Martinius gives of the Thee, is as follows: "The Leaves, most commonly known by the Name of Cha, are no where more valuable, than in the Province of Nanquin; and, for the Sake of the Curious, I shall describe them as briefly as possible. The Leaf is exactly similar to that produced by the Rhus Coriaria; and I am apt to think the former is a certain Species of the latter, though the Thee is not wild, but cultivated, is not a Tree, but a Kind of Shrub, sending forth various small Branches: The Flowers of the one do not much differ from those of the other, except that those of the latter are of a more yellowish White than those of the former. The Tea flowers in the Spring, and the Flower emits a gently fragrant Smell. It is succeeded by a green Berry, which soon assumes a blackish Colour: The tender Leaves appearing in the Spring, are thought best. These, when gathered, they put into an Iron Pan, over a slow Fire, and heat them a little; then they put them in a thin fine Cloth, and again expose them to the Fire, till they are intirely dry, and shrunk up. When thus prepared, they generally keep them close stopped leaden Vessels, in order to prevent Evaporation, and the free Access of the Air. After they have been kept a long Time, they resume their primitive Verdure, and expand themselves when put into boiling Water, in which they produce a greenish Colour, and communicate to it a pretty grateful Taste, especially to those who are accustomed to drink it. The Chinese greatly extol the Virtues of this warm Liquor, which they frequently use by Day and Night, making it the common Entertainment for Strangers and Visitors. The Price is very various, since a Pound ascends from an Halfpenny, to two, or more, Nobles: To this Liquor, it is principally said to be owing, that the Chinese are never afflicted with the Gout and Stone. When drank after Meals, it removes Crudity and Indigestion, for it greatly assists Concoction: It affords Relief after hard Drinking, and Surfeits of every Kind; for it is of a drying Quality, removes superfluous Humours, expels somniferous Vapours, and prevents Drowsiness and Oppression in those who incline to study: It has various Names in China, according to the Places where it is produced, and the different Prices of it. The best in Nanquin, is generally called Sunglocha. For a farther Account, the Curious may consult Rhodius de Regno Tunking." Martinius also informs us, that the City Luchen, in the Province of Kiangnan, is celebrated both for the great Quantities, and the Goodness of its Tea.

I could heartily wish, that all the practical Physicians in Europe would concur to giving a Sanction to this Doctrine by their Practice; for, besides the Testimonies of Trigautius and Rhodius, I am certain from Experience, that the Cha is the Rhus Coriaria, or a certain Species of it, whose Qualities and Marks are known from what has been already said. I do not, in the least, doubt, but the Cha of the Tartars, or the Thee of the Chinese, is our Chamelæagnus, or Pliny's Herb Rhus; especially since Clusius, in Auctar. Exoticor. Libror. expresly asserts, that from the Cuts of some Chinese Books, which Pavius and Joseph Scaliger received in a Present from some East India Merchants, though coarsely engraved, he perceived that many Chinese Plants are exactly similar to some of those produced in Europe. This Circumstance renders it highly probable, that China which borders upon Tartary, produces our Chamelæagnus. I am heartily sorry, however, that I have not had an Opportunity of conversing with Martinius on this Subject, since, according to Galen, in Lib. de Compos. Med. Cap. 3. reading an Author's Works, is not so satisfactory, as a personal Conversation with him. However, as I have only followed Reason, and the Course of my own Thoughts, I hope I shall have no Cause to repent my Labour; since, according to Cornelius Tacitus, in Annal. 15. many Things are obtained by Experiments and Efforts, which, to the lazy and sluggish Part of Mankind, seemed highly difficult, if not impossible. Thus the Romans, by Bravery and Activity, raised their originally petty State, to a most extensive and powerful Empire. Columbus discovered America by Reading and making Efforts for that Purpose. Copernicus, and Ticho Brahe, by their extensive Acquaintance with Mathematics, discovered and demonstrated many important Things, unknown to our Forefathers. The illustrious Hoffman, in Paralcip. Officinal, when giving a noble Scope to his Imagination, in the Investigation of Mineral Waters, tells us, that the advancing probable Things, is an Advantage to the Cause of Truth, and was always looked upon as such by Plato, Aristotle, Galen, and all other Philosophers. Notwithstanding the incomparable Learning and Industry of Martinius, I cannot comprehend some Things in his Description of Tea; for I cannot conceive why he asserts, that the Rhus Coriaria is not wild, but cultivated among the Chinese; since Matthiolus, Bauhine, and Hoffman, do not, with Galen, make a Distinction between the Rhus Coriaria, and Culinaria, which, by Trigautius and Rhodius, is called the Cha, or Thee; but if Martinius had mentioned the Myrtle, I should have conjectured, that he followed other Botanists, who exclude the Myrtus Sylvestris Dioscoridis, in the Shops known by the Name Ruscus, or Bruscus, from the Species of true Myrtles. Thus Marcellus Virgilius, in Comment. in Dioscorid. Lib. 1. Cap. 132. makes a great Difference between them in the following Passage: "The Myrtus Sativa of Pliny, which I describe in this Chapter, is not like other Plants, sown in continued Tracts of Ground; and though it thrives better in Gardens, than in uncultivated Soils, this is not the only Difference between it and the Myrtus Agrestis, which is a Plant of an intirely different Kind, which the Greeks call Oxymyrsene, and the Latins, Ruscus; for, upon Comparison, the Myrtle is milder than the Ruscus, whose cuspidated Leaves are pricking and sharp. It is, however, certain, that the Ruscus was, by some of the Antients, called Myrtus Sylvestris." I do not remember, that any Botanist has brought such a Charge against our Chamelæagnus, since it is universally enumerated among the Species of true Myrtle, though of the wild Kind. The Reason why Martinius calls the Chamelæagnus a cultivated Plant, as I suppose, is, because the Chinese, seeing us so fond of Tea, have begun to cultivate it, in order to draw the Profits arising from it, just as the Europeans do the Vine, for the Sake of the Grapes, the Persians the Mulberry-Tree, for the Silk; the Inhabitants of Narbon and Provence, the Ilex Coceigera, for the Sake of the Cochineal; or the Americans the Tobacco, on account of the large Quantities of it imported into Europe. As Trigautius thinks it not impossible for Tea to grow in some Parts of Europe, and as Rhodius affirms, that the Chinese are as busy in the Time of gathering their Tea, as the Europeans are in their Harvest; so, it is probable, that some Tracts of Land may be sown with Tea in China; notwithstanding which, it is more agreeable to the usual Way of speaking, to call Tea rather a wild, than cultivated Shrub. The Chinese also, according to Rhodius, do not gather all the Leaves produced by the Shrub, but only such as appear first in the Spring, and are soft and tender, which they also gather, one after another. Hence I infer, that the Leaves in the Summer, are very unlike those in the Spring, which is also observed in those of our Chamelæagnus, with respect to Softness, Smoothness, and Colour; so that it is not to be wondered at, if the Chinese Chamelæagnus appears milder than our own; since they collect, prepare, and dry theirs in a quite different Manner from us: "For, first, they put it in an Iron Pan, and warm it gently over a slow Fire; then, they wrap it up in a smooth, thin Cloth, and again expose it to the Fire, till it is corrugated, and shrivelled up." Hence it is, that our Chamelæagnus, when macerated in warm Water, is of a different Colour, Taste, and Smell from the Chinese Tea, though their Effects are the same, only those of the former are stronger and more considerable than those of the latter. If, therefore, in our Country, the Chamelæagnus was gathered with the same Circumstances, Pains, and Precautions observed by the Chinese, I doubt not but it would be equal to, their Tea; for if the same Measures are not taken in the Preparation of the same Herb, how is it possible, that it should produce similar and uniform Effects, especially if the one is gathered in the Spring, and the other in the End of the Summer: The one artificially dried in the House, and the other dried in the open Air by the Heat of the Sun; the one collected when it begins to appear, and other when the Plant is full of a roscid, sulphureous Dew, and bears Flowers, and Seeds. For this Reason, Scherbius justly observes, "That when many Things concur to the Production of the same Effect; all these Things ought to be exactly the same." Hoffman, in Comment. Lib. 7. represents this Doctrine in the following accurate and beautiful Manner: "Individual Objects often appear to our Senses to have no Difference; whereas, a very considerable one is observed in their Effects. This Circumstance constitutes that Individuality, which cannot be described, and which, I remember, Scherbius, my old Master, used to illustrate by the following Simile: If a Bell-Founder should make twenty small Bells, of the same Metal, in the same Mould, at the same Time, and in the same Place; yet the Sound of no one of them will be perfectly similar to that of another. What can be the Cause of this Variation? The Artist, the Mould, the Metal, and the Fire, concur to produce the same Effects, which, however, is not obtained. Besides, if we were carefully to examine these Bells by the Sight, the Touch, the Weight and other Circumstances, we can discover no Difference; which, however, is sufficiently evinced by the Sound. Some Things, said my Matter, can neither be described, nor expressed, and of this Kind are these Differences. Perhaps, in this Case, there is not an equable Thickness of the Metal, because the Fire has not equably pervaded all its Particles. Perhaps the Surface is not every where smooth because the fused Metal might have been in some Parts more refrigerated than in others: and perhaps, there maybe other Variations; for, unless all Circumstances exactly concur, the same Sound cannot be produced in all the Bells." I have quoted this Passage from Hoffman, lest any Person, observing some Differences between our Chamelæagnus, and the Chinese, or Tartars Tea, should forthwith doubt,—whether they are Shrubs of the same Species, as I have already proved them to be. The Chinese Tea, therefore, and our Chamelæagnus, are Shrubs of the same Species; though, for the former, we go beyond the Cape of Good Hope, into China, cross the Equator four Times in every Voyage, and expose ourselves to uncommon Hardships and Dangers, in order to bring Home the Leaves of an unknown Shrub, which has not the same Virtues and Qualities for which the Chinese Tea is celebrated in China, and to which our European Betony is preferable. Since, therefore, the Chamelæagnus is now sufficiently known, we have no more Occasion for Tea from China, than we have for Arum from Asia, Wormwood from Pontus, or Scordium from Crete.