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The Preface.

ment a Man, Tis therefore very
wise advice, to draw out of the bosom
of the Earth many forts of Medicines,
as well for the confervations of those
Persons that are in perfect health, as
for the ease and cure of those that are
infirm and crazy. In the mean time,
as Climates are very different th'one
from th'other, and as several Countries
produce different Species, so Nature
has distributed certain Plants and
Drugs to some Countries, which she
has denied to others; to the end that
hereby she might the better favour
the mutual commerce of all People,
and for the better cementing humane
Society, at which she alwaies seems
particularly to aim, since she has im-
planted the love and desire thereof
in the minds of all, except such as
are ill natur'd and Men-haters, who
seem to be abortives and monsters
in Nature. They therefore do seem
to clash with Reason, who in contempt
of the sacred Rules of Divine Provi-
dence

The Preface.

dence, do hold, that every Country
ought to be content with the sole use
of its own Drugs, without seeking af-
ter those things wherewith Strangers
and Foreigners may furnish us.

For is it not the meer effect of a
capricious and peevish humour, to de-
fire without any reason to deprive
Mankind of the use of those healthful
productions wherewith Nature from
all parts presents him, and to hinder
him from all advantages, which he
may thence expect ? Now amongst all
the Drugs whereof Heaven has shewed
it self liberal to Men, there be three
chiefly which in our time have requi-
red so great a vogue or credit, and so
particular an esteem through all Eu-
rope by the signal effects which they
are daily found to produce in an infi-
nite number of People, who make use
thereof with good success that I have
thought it a thing of great importance
to communicate to the publique some
Discourses and Treatises made on

A 3

this

The Preface.

Creator has distributed to these three
foreign Drugs : Which shall so much
the more oblige them to admire and
bless the Sovereign Author of all
these Creatures, and shall render
them the more desirous to make good
use thereof, with continual Thanks-
giving, in all the Diftempers where-
with they shall find themselves ei-
ther threatned, or really afflicted.

OF

2

Of Coffee.

Nevertheless I don't mean to speak of our European Beans; neither of the wilde, nor those they sow, whether they be Lupine, or Kidney Beans, or whatsoever sort; of all which we were ever wont to make use, either in the Kitchin or in the Drugsters Trade, since that the most famous Physicians and Chyrurgions have employed them in the Cure of Maladies internal as well as external; viz.: In the Dropfie, the Stone, the Stoppage of the Urine, the bloudy Flux, Loodnefs, Bruises, and other Diseases. Neither will I mention the Bean of Egypt; which Dioscorides speaks of, which the Crocodiles avoid as being destructive to their Eyes, witnefs Pliny. Neither of the Kidney Beans of Paludan Garet, like the Cacao Nut (whereof they make Chocolate) named otherwise Coles by Clusius: Nor will I treat of the purging Beans of Carthage; or thole of Ferdinand de Lopez of Castagneda; which come from the Isle of St. Thomas. I will speak for the present of a certain Bean of Arabia called Bon, whereof they make a Drink termed Coffee, which was heretofore in use amongst Arabians, and Egyptians; and

Of Coffee,

3

and which is now a dayes in very great
requeft amongst the English, French,
and Germanes.

The firft that makes mention of the
Property of this Bean, under the name
of Bunchum in the 9th. Century after the
Birth of our Saviour, was Zachary Mabo-
met Rafes, commonly called Rhasio, a ve-
ry famous Arabian Physician, who has
composed a great many excellent Books;
to wit, Ten dedicated to King Alman-
for, and Fifteen other learned Works.
He was the firft, that did explain what
was the meaning of Bunchum, affuring
us that it is hot and dry, very good
for the Stomach, it hinders the un-
pleasant Smell of Sweat, and of depila-
tory Oyntments.

After Rafes divers other Physicians,
and particularly Avicenne, explains Bon
under the name of Bunchum.

As to the choice thereof, he says
that of a Lemmon colour, light, and
of a good smell is the best; that the
white and the heavy is naught, that it
is hot and dry in the first degree, and
according to others cold in the first
degree. As to its operations and ef-
fects, it fortifies the members, it cleans

the

4 Of Coffee.

the skin, and dries up the humidities
that are under it, and it gives an ex-
cellent smell to all the Body.

*Prosper Alpinus* in his Book of the
Medicines and Plants of Egypt,
throughly describes the Bean *Bon*, and
the Drink they make thereof. For he
fays the Grain *Bon* is in great use a
mong the Egyptians, of which they
prepare a decoction, whereof they
drink in their Country just the same as
we do the wine in our Taverns : And
tho they drink it all day long, yet their
manner is always to take a large
quantity thereof in the morning fa-
fting, as hot as they can well indure it,
it being the general opinion amongst
them, that it warms and corroborates
the Stomach, and that it is a power-
ful remedy to cure all the obstruc-
tions of the Bowels.

It is an excellent Remedy against
the floppage of Womens Courtes, and
they make often use thereof, when
they don't flow so fast as they desire,
they sip a great deal of it, as hot as
they can drink it; always taking
care to drink it by little and little:
for it is the Custom of every one

to

Of Coffee.

5

to drink it after that manner. He
proceeds further in it, saying, that the
drink called Coffee is much esteem'd
of in those Countries, the which they
prepare with certain black Grains,
which come very near to Beans. This
decoction they make two ways : the
one with the skin or the outside of the
aforefaid Grain, and the other with the
very substance of the Bean. That
which is made of the skin is of more
force, then the other that's made with
the Bean it self : I have seen the Tree
whereon it grows in the Orchard of a
Turkish Commander, who had cauſed
it to be transfplanted out of Arabia, it
very much reſembles the Plant, called
Priests Bonnet. The quality of this
Drink is cold and dry, or rather tem-
perate in respect of cold, by reaſon of
some heat, which is found mingled
therewith: For this grain is comſoſed
of two different ſubstances ; to wit,
the one groſs and terren, whereby it
strengthens and corroborates, and the o-
ther is thought to be made up of warm
parts, by which it heats, cleanses, and
opens. This decoction has a tafe not
much different from that of Succory,
tho

6 Of Coffee,

that it has a greater power to remove all obstructions. Having then took notice, that the Women in the beginning of their courses, to help evacuations, drink of it by little and little, a great quantity very hot, and in that time make great use of this Drink. Affected and with this experience I begun to employ it for all women whatsoever, who by some cause or other have their purgations ceas'd or diminished, the which I have seen experimented by very many with good success; and thence I have learned, that this sort of Medicine was excellent for the flopping of Women's courses, which proceeds from the obstructions of the veins in the Matrice, having beforehand provided for the purging of the body. This Drink took in the morning faesting, mightily proclaims the Courses, and it is a quick and certain remedy for those Women, who not having their courses are troubled with violent pains.

They prepare this decoction taking a pound and a half of the Kernels of this Grain, peeling off the skin they roast it before the fire, and having roasted

Of Coffee.

7

roasted or parched it, they boyl it in twenty pintes of water. Others take the Grain roasted or parched, and beat to powder, and let it lie steept in water a whole day: and without any other infusion they boyl it half a way, and having strain'd it, they keep it in earthen pots stopt close, to make use thereof when they shall want it.

They prepare this drink after the fame fashion, with the Bark of the aforesaid Grain: which nevertheless they take in a lefs quantity, viz. some only fix ounces, others nine; with twenty pintes of Fountain water, which they boyl half away. This Drink the Arabians call Caova: the Berries (as I laid before) grow on a Tree much like our Priests Bonnet, tho the leaves are thicker, harder, and greener, and besides they are green all the year round.

They use this decoction to fortifie the stomach, when it is too cold, and to help digestion, as also to remove the obstructions of the entrails: they make use of it several days with good success, in the cold swellings of the Li-ver and the Spleen. Avicenne menti-

ons

8 Of Coffee.

ons these Grains, and attributes the
same use to them; esteeming them to
be hot in the third degree, and dry
in the second; which does not seem
likely; since it has a sweet with a
kind of bitternels, without any sharp-
ness or acrimony.

We must now particularize the pre-
paration of this Drink made with Coffee;
tis true, I have spoken something
hereof before, but in general now I
will proceed to the particulars.

The Grain Bon whose figure (with
the Tree whereon it grows) you see
here before you, being first well
skinn'd and pill'd, is put into an In-
ron Instrument firmly shut together
with the coverlid, through this In-
strument they thrust a Spit, by the
means whereof they turn it before
the Fire, till it shall be well rosted;
after which having beaten it into
very fine Powder, you may make use
thereof, in an equal proportion accor-
ding to the number of the people that
will drink it: Viz.: the third part of
a spoonful for each person, and put
it into a glass of boiling Water, put-
ting a little Sugar thereto: And af-
ter

ter

IO Of Coffee.

ter having let it boyl a small time,
you must pour it into little dishes of
porcelain or any other sort, and so
let it be drunk by little and little,
as hot as it can possibly be indur'd,
but especially faesting.

I have here explained in general
the Virtues of that wholesome drink
called Coffee; tho it will not be al-
together unnecessary, to relate what
an eminent Arabian Physician speaks
thereof, who more particularly declares
these things that follow.

The fruit Bon (says he) is gathered in the Month Ab, which being took out of its shell is divided into two parts: its Flowers are whitish, this Bean is hot in the first degree, and dry in the second, that is to say its Skin, as to the kirnel, it is altogether temperate, nevertheless it dries, but moderately and pleasantly: Its drink is good againft Catharrs and Rheums, which trouble the Breast: In the stoppage of Womens courtes, and Urine, againft the boyling of the blood, and the decaying of the strength 'tis very necessary. This drink has got the same effect in Denmark.

Of Coffee.

11

mark and Sweden: In which Countries the great Lords make use of it frequently. And especially at Paris there are a great many Shops that sell Coffee publickly with this following commendation.

*The most excellent Virtues of the Berry called Coffee.*

Coffee is a Berry which only grows in the desert of Arabia, from whence it is transported into all the Dominions of the Grand Seigneur, which being drunk dries up all the cold and moist humours, disperses the wind, fortifies the Liver, eases the dropie by its purifying quality, 'tis a Sovereign medicine against the itch, and corruptions of the blood, refreshes the heart, and the vital beating thereof, it relieves those that have pains in their Stomach, and cannot eat: It is good also against the indispositions of the brain, cold, moist, and heavy, the fteam which riles out of it is good against the Rheums of the eyes, and drumming in the ears: 'Tis excellent also against

12

Of Coffee.

gainst the shortneſs of the breath, againſt
Rheums which trouble the Liver, and
the pains of the Spleen : It is an extra-
ordinary eafe againſt the Worms:
After having eat or drunk too much :
Nothing is better for thofe that eat
much Fruit.

The daily uſe hereof in a little
while will manifeſt the aforelaid ef-
fect to thofe, that being indispoſed
thall uſe it from time to time.

'Tis related that the Turks a-
mongſt other drinks, make uſe of
one which they greatly eſteem, and
which they call Chaube, the fame
with our Coffee as black as Ink, and
which is excellent, eſpecially in the
illneſs of the Stomack: They are
wont to drink thereof in the Mor-
ning, in publick places without any
difficulty, they take it in earthen or
Porcelain Porringers, their manner
is feting themſelves down on the
ground in a Ring, every one drinks
in his turn: They fet the Porringer
oftentimes to their mouth, but they
drink but a very little at a time, by
reason of its extream heat. The in-
gredients they uſe in the making of
this

Of Coffee.

13

this Liquor, are certain fruits which
are call'd Buncho, by the Inhabitants
of the Country; being like (as to
the out side) in greatneſs, and Co-
lour to the Laurel Berries, having
two skins very thin, they ſay they
are brought from the Indies, 'tis a-
thing of ſmall price amongſt them.
There is obſerved to be two yellow
Grains within, which have each of
them their little ſeveral partition.
and reſembles in Colour, Name, and
quality, the Bancha of Avicenne or the
Buncha of Rafes. And for my part
I ſhall think it to be the ſame thing
till the Learned ſhall better inform
ne, this drink is very frequent a-
mongſt them, for which cauſe there
be very many of them that ſell it
in publick Shops, and a great many
trade abroad with this Fruit in hou-
ſes of entertainment. They count
it as wholſome as we do our worm-
wood Wine or other Phyſical drinks

At Amsterdam this drink is fold
with great commendation of the
publick, for it preserves the radical
moiſtneſs, ſtrengthenſs the Stomach,
cures ſore eyes, pain in the Head,
Catharrs,

14

Of Coffee.

Catharrs, Palfre, Gout, the Dropfie,
'tis good againft the Scurvy, breaks
the Stone, and eafes women with
Child. Monsieur Simon Pauli, an e-
minent Physician does altogether con-
demn the use of Coffee, in a Treatife
concerning the abuse of Tobacco and
Tea, for as much as it effeminates
both the body and understanding,
which yet it does not by cooling it
too much, but becaufe it inſenſibly
dries by reaſon of its natural Sul-
phure wherewith it abounds as well
as Tobacco, and the Agnus Caſtus, or
Park-leaves, but we ought to inter-
pret what this Learned man ſays of the
abufe, and not of the right uſage of
Coffee, otherwife one may as well
forbid the uſe of Rhubard, China,
Saffafras, and other Drugs which
grow out of Europe.

For my part I do no leſs blame
the abufe of Coffee, than that of
Wine: But I defend the lawful uſe
thereof, ſince it is evident that many
find this drink to be very profitable,
taken in the Morning faſting, with a
little Sugar, in a moderate quantity,
and to very good purpose, and dai-
ly

ly

Of Coffee.

15

ly experience fews that it is very pro-
per to cure the indisposifions of the
Stomach, ſtop Fluxes, and fortifies the
whole body. If all thofe that make
uſe of Coffee, did it through a prin-
cipal of daintineſs and nicety, the a-
foreſaid diſcourſe would be ſufficient
to ſatisfie their curioſities, but the
moſt part of thofe that uſe it are re-
duc't thereto by neceſſity, and take
it rather as a Medicine and not as a
dainty diſh: I thought I ſhould do
them a pleafure to add hereto theſe
following remarks on the ſame Sub-
ject, which I have gathered from the
reading of ſome particular Voyages,
by which one may ſee that all the
Authors, who have treated of the
properties of this ſort of Bean, are
agreed in the ſame opinion, that it is
moſt excellent in the curing of ſeve-
ral indisposiſtions, and moſt eſpecial-
ly for thofe which trouble the head
or Stomach.

Pietro Del Lavallè an Italian Gentle-
man Sirnamed the illuſtrious Travel-
ler, ſpeaks in two ſeveral places of his
Book concerning Coffee, but as that
which he ſays of it in the firſt place
is

16 Of Coffee.

is not very considerable, I'le paſs it
over, and only inſt upon his ſecond
remark of Coffee, wherein ſpeaking
of the Turkisſh Liquors, he utters
his mind in theſe Terms. The
Turks have a Drink of a black Colour,
which during the Summer is very
cooling, whereas in the Winter it
mightily heats and warms the Bo-
dy, yet without changing the ſub-
ſtance, and always continuing the
ſame drink, that they ſwallow hot
as it comes from the Fire, and they
drink it at long draughts, not
at dinner time, but as a kind of
dainsy, and as it were to pleafe their
palate, and to entertain themſelves
at their eafe in the Company of
their friends, and one cannot find
any meetings amongſt them where
they drink it not. For which end
they keep a great fire on purpose,
near which they keep always ready
little Porringers of Porcelain filled
with this mixture; and when that
is hot enough, there be Servants ap-
pointed for this end, who do nothing
eſſe but carry theſe Porringers to
each man in the Company, as hot

as

Of Coffee.

17

as they can, giving them also some
Melon feed to chew, for the better
passing away the time; and with this
Seed and this Drink, which they call
Cahue, they divert themselves in their
Conversations, in publick Feasts or
particular Recreations, sometimes the
space of seven or eight hours. I
drank of it last Summer, as a refresh-
ment, with Melon Seed, and satisfa-
ction enough; I remember I have
read somewhere that the Antients
did likewise use such forts of Liqours,
and if that be true, there is a great
deal of likely-hood that it is was the
same thing: Because that in ma-
ny other fashions, as well of
this Country as abroad amongst
Forreigners, I find every day some
foot-steps and remainders of Anti-
quity. This Drink, as I remember,
is made with the grain or Fruit of
a certain Tree, which grows in A-
rabia towards Mecca, and the fruit
it produces is called Cahue, whence
this Drink derives its Name, 'tis of
an oval shape, of the same bigness
as a middle-sized Olive, and to make
this composition they take sometimes

B

no.

18 Of Coffee.

no more than the skin, which is
tender, sometimes only the Kernel,
which is like to beans; and they
are of an opinion, that of these two
juices, the one heats the to'ther cools,
but I cannot well call to mind whe-
ther the refreshing is that of the
skin or the other.

The way to make theDrink there-
of, is thus: They burn the skin or
Kernel of this fruit as it beſt plea-
fes their fancy or palate, and they
beat it to a powder very fine,
of a blackiſh Colour, which is not
very pleafant to the eye-fight; this
Powder will keep a long time, and
is always to be found in the Drug-
ſters Shops. When they would drink
thereof they boyl it in Water in cer-
tain pots made on purpose, having a
long and ſlender pipe to pour it
readily into the little Porringers,
and when the Water has boiled e-
nough, they put therein ſuch a quan-
tity of this powder, according to the
number of people that are to drink
of it: they let this powder boyl with
the Water sometime until it ſhall
have loft its bitter taſte, which it would

always

Of Coffee.

19

always keep without a perfect boy-
ling. Afterwards they pour out this
Liqour to be drunk as hot as the
Month and Throat can endure it, not
fuffering themselves to swallow it but
by little and little, and at several times,
because of its actual heat: and after
it has taken the taste and colour of
this powder, whereof the thick finks
down and remains at the bottom
of the Pot, to make use of it more
deliciously, they mingle with this
powder of Cahue, much Sugar, Cin-
namon, and Cloves well beaten,
which gives it an exquisite taste,
and makes it much more nourishing.
But yet without these dainties this
drink it agreeable enough to the taste
with the powder of Cahue alone ;
and if you will believe them it con-
tributes notably to the health, help-
ing digestion, fortifying the Stomach,
stopping Rheums and Catharrs: These
are very good qualities if they be
effective. They also say that after
Supper it hinders drowsiness, and for
that reason those that would study
by Night do then drink thereof.
There is sold here by retail so great

B 2

a

20

Of Coffee.

a quantity of it, that they say the
impofft upon *Cahue*, amounts to a
confiderable sum to the Grand Seignours profit: When I return I will
bring home of it with me, and I will
impart the Knowledge of this simple
to the Italians, which perhaps at
present is altogether unknown to
them. If they should drink it with
Wine as they do with Water, I
durst say it would be the *Nepenthe*
that *Homer* mentions, which *Helen*
drunk there, it being for certain
that *Cahue* is brought hither from
that Country: And as this *Nepenthe*
was a charm against cares and vexations, the same *Cahue* to this day
is used amongst the Turks as an entertainment and past-time, making
the hours to flip away merrily in
conversation, intermingling with their
drink several pleasant and recreative
discourfes, which unawares brings upon their mind this forgetfulness of
forrows which the Poet attributes to
his *Nepenthe*.

*Thevenot* in a Relation which he
has published of a Voyage into the
Levant set a particular Chapter apart
which

Of Coffee

29

which he employes in describing the
Victuals, Drink, and Lodging of
the Turks, and after having men-
tioned their other Liqours, speaks
thus:

The Turks have another drink
very common amongst them which
they call *Cahue*; whereof they make
use every hour in the day. This
drink is made of a grain whereof we
will speak by and by. They roast it
in a pan, or any other utensil upon
the fire, afterward they peel it, and
beat it into powder very fine, and
when they would drink thereof, they
take a brazen pot made purposely
which they call *Ibrik*, and having
fill'd it with water, thy boyl it, and
when it boyls they put of this pow-
der therein, for about two cups
of water one spoonfull, and when
that is boyled they take it quickly
from the fire, or remove it, other-
wife it would boyl over, for it rifes
quickly, when it has thus had ten
or twelve boylings, they pour it into
little dishes of Porcelain, set in rank
on a Trencher of painted wood, they
bring it you boying hot, and it

C 3

must

30 Of Coffee.

must be so drunk, but at several
times, otherwife it is not good.

This Liqour is black and bitter;
and smells a little of the burnt too,
every one drinks it by little and
little, for fear of scalding their
mouths, so that being in a Ca-
vehane (for so they name the pla-
ces where 'tis fold ready made) one
may receive a kind of mufick and
divertissement by hearing the noise
that every one makes in fipping.
This drink is good to hinder the
fumes which rife from the stomach
into the head, and by consequence
to cure the indisposition thereof, and
for the fame reason 'tis good
against sleeping. When our French
Merchants have a great many Letters
to write, and intend to labour all
night, they take in the evening a
dish or two of this Cahue, it is
good also to comfort the stomach
and help disgestion; in a word if you
will believe the Turks 'tis good against
all indispositions whatever, and af-
furedly it has at the least as much
virtue in it, as is appropriated to
Tea. For the taste, in drinking there-

of

Of Coffee. 31

of once or twice, one may easily
accustom ones self to it, and it will
no longer seem unpleasant; there
be some that mix therewith Cloves
and a few grains of Cardamome,
called in Latin *Cardamomum minus*,
which they name *Cacoule*; others put
thereto Sugar, but this mixture which
makes it more pleasant renders it
less wholefom and profitable: they
drink a vast quantity thereof in the
Turkish Country; there is neither
rich nor poor that drinks less than
two or three cups a day, and 'tis one of
the things wherewith the husband
is obliged to furnish his Wife. There
be many publick Taverns of *Cahue*
where they boyl it in great Kettles; in
these places all sort of people may
come, without distinction of Reli-
gion or quality, and 'tis no shame
to frequent these places, since many
go only to recreate themselves; there
be also without the house, Walls with
Mats on them, where those that will
may sit and see all that pafs by,
and take the air, and there are some
that play on the Violin, Flute and
other Musick, who are hired by the

B 4

Ma-

32

Of Coffee.

Master of the Cavebane to play and sing
the best part of the day, to bring com-
pany together. When anyone that has
any breeding fees another of his ac-
quaintance come into the Cavebane
he will order the Master not to take
their mony, and that by one only
word, for when the Cahue is given
them he Cries Giaba, that is, Gratis.

Monfieur de Bourges in the account he
gives of the Voyage of the Bishop of
Beryte to Cochinchina, reckoning up
the incommodities they underwent,
in the march of the Caravan through
the Desert, lets down, as one of the most
insupportable, the want of water,
which they were put to much trou-
ble to find, and oftentimes they were
forc'd to use corrupted water. Where-
upon he fayes,

As the water which they meet with
is commonly naught, putryfied, to
correct the indisposition which it
caufes in the stomach, the Turks take
a drink, called Coffee, which begins
to be used by the Europeans. This
drink is made of a little Bean which
grows in Arabia near Mecca in such
abundance, that it is transported into

al/

Of Coffee.

33

all Asia, and almost all the places
where there be Mahometans, who make
use of this drink instead of Wine,
whereas it sufficiently imitates the
effects, having the property to fortifie
the stomach, and to make easie the
digestion, and to purifie the va-
pours of the Head. They roast this
Bean in a pan afterward they pound
it in a Mortar, after having separated
the bran by a fine Sieve, they
boyl this black and burnt powder in
water a little while, then they drink
it as hot as they can, though this Liqueur
has not an agreeable taste, but rather
bitter, yet it is much esteem'd of by
these people for the good effects they
find therein; which manifests the
care God has to furnish all Countries
with the necessary things for the ad-
vantage of men, and there is no
doubt but that there be other plants
in other Countries which have the
like virtues.

The end of Coffee.

C 5

38 Of Tea.

the Description which he makes of
the Empire, Speaks thus of *Tea*;

The most excellent leaves of *Cha*
or *Tea*, are found in the Provinces of
*Kiangnon*, and specially near the City
*Hoeichen* ; this leaf is little, and the
Tree thereof is very like the shrub
call'd by Pliny, Rhus Coriarius, or Cur-
riers Sumack : I do almost believe
that this is a kind of the same, howe-
ver it is not a wild shrub, but a
garden Plant ; and further 'tis no
tree but a shrub, which spreads it
self into divers little branches and
pleasant boughs : Its flowers come
very near to that of Sumack, only
this of *Cha* inclines more to a yellow,
it puts forth its first flower in
Summer, which does not give much
scent, and its green berry becomes
blackish, its branches are cover'd
with white and yellow flowers
jagg'd and pick'd from top to bot-
tom.

To make this drink of *Cha* so much
efteem'd by the Indians, they only
look for the first leaf which comes
forth in Spring, which also is the
most soft and delicate, they gather it
with

Of Tea.

39

with great care the one after to'ther,
and separately, afterwards they pre-
fently heat it a little while, and softly,
on a gentle fire, and wrap it in a
very fine, thin, and smooth piece of Ca-
lico, often stirring and rubbing it with
the hands, then they fet it on the fire
again, being also wrapt up, and
turn'd, and rub it the second time till
it curls up together and becomes quite
dry, after which they pour it into tin
boxes, sealing and stopping it very
close, for fear the Spirits and the
too subtil quallity, should evaporate,
for after you have kept it a long
while, if you put it into boyling wa-
ter it will retake its former verdure
extending and spreading forth it
self; if it be good it leaves behind
it in the Water a smell and taste
very agreeable to the palate, and
withal a greenish colour. The
Chinese praiseth it wonderfully, and
fet a great value on the vertues
and qualities of this drink, for they
use it Night and day, and prefent
it as a great rarity to those they
would regal. Now there be so many
several forts, and this so different
both

40

Of Tea.

both of price and goodneſs, that
there is ſome, a pound whereof is
worth an hundred Franks and more,
another ſort you may have for ten
or a dozen Crowns, others for two,
nay ſome ſo cheap, that will coſt but
two farthings a pound. It has at the
leaſt this good quality to hinder the
Gout, and the Gravel in the kidneys, if
you drink of it after meals it takes
away all indigestions and crudities
of the Stomach, above all it helps and
facilitates digestion, more especially
it diſintoxicates thofe that are fuddl'd,
giving them new forces, and enabling
them to go to it again ; becauſe it
eaſes the burden of thofe inconve-
niences which this brutal exceſs
brings along with it, by reaſon that
it dries and cleanſes all the ſuper-
fluous and peccant humours, and that
it diſperſes the vapours which cauſe
ſleep and overcome a man when he
desires to be waking.

The Chineſes have given it divers
names, according to the diversity of
the places where it grew, and from
its innate virtues, as that of Hoeichem
is the best, ſo they have named it

SLUN-

Of Tea.

41

SLUNGOCHA, and fell it some
times for 150 Franks the pound. It
has a blackish feed, which falling to
the ground takes root, and at the end
of three years produces pritty little
thrubs about the height of our goos-
berry bushes or Rose-trees, whereof they
gather every year a very considerable
crop, the snow and the hail not being
able though never so rigorous to do
them any hurt, so that I am perfwaded
one might easily improve this plant in
the Soil of Europe, if its grain were
fowed in some chady and fertill place.

The *Fapeneses* prepare this drink
quite after an other sort than the *Chi-
neſes* do, for of its leaves they make a
powder which they drink with hot
water, but the *Chineſes* drink the boyling
water in the which these leaves have
been ſtrayned, and whereto they have
contributed all their goodneſs.

Monfieur de Bourges, in the Relation
(which I have allready instanced, )
of the Voyage of the Bishop of Beryte
to Cochinchina, ſpeaks thus.

During our abode at Siam, after our
dinner, which was usually of fish, we
drank some *Tea*, which they take
very