Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1900-08-03
CHINA'S SACRED PLANTS.
NATURES GREATEST GIFT TO MAN
is GINSENG, JOHN SAYS.

The Mystic Lotus bean ChteFs INV w.
Chinese Conception Of an Ideal Lille
Legend of the Discovery of Rice-sig-
nificance of the Millet Crop.
The ancient doctrine of plant sigma
lures no longer exercises control over
human mind and action, but is I'M
hesitatingly consigned to the lifting
oblivion of the Ozark Ages" one OF
the traditional superstitions of the past
too obviously ridiculous to be believed,
even by the credulously ignorant OF
modern times.
Rut in China we find that the far-
famed ginseng root holds supreme
Mace as "the most valuable prouu'-
tion of nature" After that, what
more can be said for its medicihai
properties?
It is really a large. variety OF the
well-known mandrake, and, as gin Is
tbe Chinese word for man. we trace
tbe meaning of the term. Because
of it's resemblance to the human rorin'
it is the chief specific for all disorders
of lungs or stomach; it revlves the
anaemic, repels the encroachmeht VI
old age. cures asthma, acts as counter
irritant in q case of poison; In snort
is the mystic call heal" In appear
ance the root, when dried, Is of yellow
color. streaked with black veins, as IL
outlined In ink, and when chewed
Yields a bitter-sweet juice. pleasant
and clean of taste So popular and SUI
preme is Chinese faith In its power
that the sum of three pounds OF gold
is gladly exchanged for one pound Oh
ginseng.
Although really not indigenous, as
II is a native of Manchuria, 1t forms
a great exception to the usually alb
borred foreign thing" it is cultivated,
nurtured. even guarded carefully from
the profane or greedy intruder.
To the northeast of Pekin, between
II and the province of Leas Iong'
stretches a wild and almost inaccess-
ible billy country of deep wild forests,
which is staked by high palisades and
strongly guarded by Chinese soldiers
who prevent intrusion. The Govern
mept would make of it's growth mo-
nopoly. and many a Tartar risks life
and limb to cross the Rubicon and
steal the treasure. The Tartar, in his
name of Orhota, considers it as the
chief of plants.
When Tartary was surveyed by the
Emperor Kam-he, the well-knOwn Pere
Jartoux was enjoined by the Emperor
to watch for the ginseng. On this &C.
casion a veritable. army of Tartars,
10000 in number, were employed 10
gather the valued plant, and this army
of botanists was bdivided into COM
panies of 100 men each, under cn1er
For six months they crossed and
recrossed the country, till every avail
able root was gathered in, and after
allowing two ounces apiece to each
gatherer the remainder was bought
,, in by equal weight in pure silver.
The Chinese doctor, in distinctive
r costume and wearing his peculiar spec
tacles-eyes and rims which are alike
made of clear tortoise shell-may b'
t called into consultation for light OF
e serious cases of illness, but his rem
edy. like the turpentine cure of TIT
t Florida negro, is always and ever
I; ginseng.
The man who is too i'll to be curet
!. by ginseng is called to the Celestia
t Land of his ancestors; the man WIZ
is cured is not ready to join the de
t parted.
s. With far more mystic than of mate
a rial regard do we find the Nelumbo o
sacred lotus bean enter into the CHI
nese conception of an ideal or highe
Is life. Egypt, wherein it ruled as til
=. great emblem of sanctity and claime'
y as it's followers a devoted priesthoo
.. 1000 years ago, now knows it not; an
}, so to India and China principally ma
Re we 90 to see and learn Of the sacre
:: lotus.
d Above all sacred plants it is chez
- ished by Chinese and Japs alike; tn
n flower of flowers, uncOntaminated b
II the muddy waters on which 1T float
"a this Lien-wha and its beauties al
e sung by the poets, it's virtues extolle
il and worshiped; for according to Oh
d, nese theology it as nectar and enter
=, ~ into the beverage of Immortality.
to No greater pleasure, no higher forl
Re of enjoyment, is conceivable for mo
-, tai man than to float upon the rive
at i'm moonlight amidst the lotus beds.
TX is a taste of the blessed life to con
y and Is truly a purely ideal, as well
IN intensely simple, mode Of enjOymen
as when compared with our noisy be-
a gardens and garish display Of cOlOrt
% lights; and yet we regard this ardel
It. admirer of the lotus, ever and Away
ny as the heather Chinee. To him it
[Lo typical of female beauty, and {
of its leaves the mysterious god, Puzz
ul is reverently sealed. Nor is the lott
lei without it's associations for the Chri
49, tan. It's fruit is divided into valv
gh and i'm each rests nut about the ST
on of fiIbert. with flavor more delica
~ than that of the almond. When grOuI
in it is often mixed with -four for brea
do In ancient days these nuts were
an cased in balls of clay and thrown o
of upon the watery bosom of the nigh
ur Nile, custom which cOmmentato
nd seem to think forms the real explain
M, ng ton of our popular text: Cast Z
20 bread upon the waters, for thou shi
find it after many days"
Rice, the grain of grains in all Ea
49, 10 ncfi,noto1 in China