The suburban citizen., 1900-08-04
bHINA'S SACRED PLANTS.
NATURES GREATEST GIFT TO MAN
S GINSENG, JOHN SAYS.

The ancient doctrine of plant sigma
lures no longer exercises control over
human mind and action, but is I'M
hesltatingly consigned to the fitting
oblivion of the Ozark Ages" one OF
the traditional superstltions of the past,
too obviously ridiculous to be believed,
even by the credulously ignorant Of
modern times.
But in China we find that the far
famed ginseng root holds supreme
place as "the most valuable produc-
ton of nature" After that, what
more can be said for its medicinal
properties?
1t is really q large variety of the
well-known mandrake, and, as gin is
/ the Chinese word for man, we trace
the meaning OF the term. Because
( of its resemblance to the human form,
/ It is the clIief specific for ali disorders
of lungs or stomach; it revives the
anaemic, repelS the encrOachment of
old age, cures asthma, acts as counter
irritant in a case of poison; in short,
Is the mystic "all heal' In appear
ance the root when dried, is Of yellow
color, streaked with black veins, as II
outlined in ink, and when chewcd
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 of
ginseng.
Although really not indigenous, as
It is a native Of Manchuria, IL forms
great exception to the usually alb
horred foreign thing" it is cultivated,
nurtured even guarded carefully from
the profane or greedy intruder.
To the northeast Of Pellin, between
it and the province of Leas Tong,
stretches a wild and almost inaccess-
ible hilly country Of deep wild forests,
which is staked by high palisades and
strongly guarded by Chinese soldiers
who prevent Intrusion. The Govern
ment would make Of its growth mo
nopoly, and many a Tartar risks life
and limb to cross the RubicOn and
steal the treasure. The Tartar, in bis
name of Orhota, considers it as the
chief Of plants.
When Tartary was surveyed by the
Emperor Kam-he, the well-llnOwn Pere
JartouX was cnjoined by the Emperor
to watch for the ginseng. On this oc-
caslon a veritable army OF Tartars,
10000 in number, were employed to
gather the valued plant, and this army
of botanists was sub-divided into com
panies of 100 men each, under a chief. |
For six months they crossed aud
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, i'm distinctive |
costume and wearing his peculiar spec
tacles-eyes and rims which are alike
made Of clear tortoise shell-may be |
called into consultation for light OF |
serious cases Of illness. but his rem |
edy, like the tulpentine cure of the |
Florida negro, is always and ever
ginseng.
The man who is too i'll to he cured |
by ginseng is called to the Celestial |
Land Of his ancestors the man who |
is cured is not ready to join the de-
parted.
With far more mystic than OF mate
rial regard do we find the Nclumbo or
sacred lotus bean enter into the Chi |
nese conception Of an ideal or higher |
life. Egypt, wherein it ruled as the
great emblem of sanctity and claimed !
as its followers a devoted priesthood |
1000 years ago, now knows it not: and
so TO India and China principally may
we go to see and learn Of the sacred
lotus.
Above all sacred plants II is cher
ished by Chinese and Japs alike; the
flower Of flowers. uncoutaminated by |
the muddy waters on which II floats.
this Lien-wha ana its beauties are
sung by the poets, its virtues cxtolled
and worShiped; for according to Chi
neSe theology Il as nectar aud enters
into the beverage Of Immortality.
No greater pleasure, no higher form
Of enjoyment, is conceivable for NOR
tai man than to float upon the river
in moonlight amidst the lotus beds. 1t
Is taste Of the blessed life to come
and is truly purely ideal, as well as
intensely simple, mode Of enjoyment.
when compared with our noisy hccr
gardens and garish display Of colored
lights and yet we regard this ardent
admircr Of the lotus, ever and always.
as the heather Chinec. TO him II Is
typical of female beauty. and on
It's leaves the mysterious god Puzza.
is reyerently sealed. Nor Is the lotus
without its associations for the Chris
tian. It's fruit is divided into valves
and in each rests n nut about the size
of a filbert, with flavor more delicate
than that Of the almond. When ground
1t Is often mixed with -four for bread.
In ancient days these nuts were in
cased in balls Of clay and thrown ont
upon the watery bosom Of the mighty
Nile, a custom which commentators
seem TO think forms the real cxplana-
ton Of our popular text: Cast thy
bread upon the waters, for thou shalt