3

THE
Natural History
OF
COFFEE.

SECT. I.

OFFEE is said to be a fort of *Arabian*
Bean, called *Bon*, or *Ban* in the Eastern
Countries, the Drink made of it is na-
med *Coava*, or *Chaube* over all the *Turkish*
Dominions. *Prosper Alpinus* (who liv'd
several years in Ægypt) affures us that he saw the Tree
it self, which he compares to our *Spindle Tree*, or *Prick-
wood*, only the Leaves were a little thicker, and harder,
befides continually Green. This Tree is found in the
Desarts of *Arabia*, in some parts of *Perfia* and *India*, the
Seed or Berry of which is called by the Inhabitants
*Buncho, Bon, and Ban*, which being dry'd, and boyl'd
with Water, is the moft Universal Drink in all the Tur-
kish, and several Eastern Countries, where Wine is
publickly forbid; it has been the moft antient Drink of

A 2

the

Alpinus de
Plant. Ægypti-
tiac. p. 26.

4

The Natural History

SECT. I.

Dr. Mundy de
potulentis. p.
35 I.

Taverniers

Travels, p. 1.

Olearius, Am-
bassadors Tra-
vels of Perſia.
lib. 6. p. 224.

Dr. Willis
Pharmaceut.
Rat. p. 1.

the *Arabians*, and some will have the *jus nigrum* *Spartanorum*, the black Broth of the *Spartans*, to have been the fame with our *Coffee*: the *Persians* at this day do tipple as much *Coffee* off as the *Turks* themselves. *Tavernier* in his Description of *Ispahan* (the Metropolis of *Perſia*) is very jocofe and merry, when he comes to describe the famous Coffee-Houſe of that City; he ſays, that the wife *Sha Abas* obſerving great numbers of *Persians* to refort to that Houſe daily, and to quarrel very much about State-affairs, appointed a *Moullah* to be there every day betimes to entertain the *Tobacco-whiffers*, and *Coffee-quaffers* with a point of Law, Hiftory, or Poetry; after which, the *Moullah* rifes up, and makes Proclamation that every man muſt retire, and to his buſineſs: upon which they all obſerve the *Moullah*, who is always liberally entertain'd by the Company. *Olearius* does also ſpeak of the great diverſions made in their *Coffee-Houſes* of *Perſia* by their Poets, and Hiftorians, who are ſeated in a high Chair, from whence they make Speeches, and tell Satyrical Stories, playing in the mean time with a little ſtick, and the fame geſtures, as our Juglers and Legerdemain-men do in England.

As for the qualities and nature of *Coffee*, our own Countryman, Dr. *Willis*, has publifh'd a very rational Account, whose great Reputation and Authority are of no ſmall force; he ſays, that in ſeveral Headachs, Dizineſs, Lethargies, and Catarrhs, where there is a groſs habit of Body, and a cold heavy Conſtitution, there *Coffee* may be proper, and ſuccesſul; and in theſe cafes he ſent his Patients to the *Coffee-Houſe* rather than to the Apothecaries Shop: but where the temperament is hot, and lean, and active, there *Coffee* may not be very agreeable, because it may diſpoſe the Body to inquietudes, and leannefs. The Dr. makes one unlucky obſervation of this Drink, which I am afraid will cow our Citizens from

SECT. I. of COFFEE.

from ever medling with it hereafter, that it often makes men Paralytick, and does so flacken their strings, as they become unfit for the sports, and exercises of the Bed, and their Wives recreations; to confirm which, I will quote here two Precedents out of the most Learned Olearius, who says, that the Persians are of an opinion that Coffee allays their natural heat, for which reason they drink it, that they may avoid the charge, and in-conveniences of many Children: nay, the Persians are so far from dissembling the fear they have thereof, that some of them have come to the Holstein Physician of that Embassy, for Remedies to prevent the multiplication of Children, but the Doctor being a merry bold German, answered the Persians, that he had rather help them to get Children, than to prevent them. This most famous Olearius (that made so many curious, and accurate Observations in his Travels) tells us of a Persian King, named Sultan Mahomet Cawin, who Reigned in Persia before Tamerlane's time, that was so accustomed to drinking of Cahwa, or Coffee, that he had an unconceivable aversion to Women, and that the Queen standing one day at her Chamber Window, and perceiving they were about gelding a Horse, ask'd some standers by, why they treated so handsom a Creature in that manner; whereupon an answer was made her, that he was too fiery and mettlesome, therefore they resolved to deprive him of his generative faculty: the Queen reply'd, that trouble might have been spar'd, since Cahwa, or Coffee, would have wrought the same effect, the experiment being already try'd upon the King her Husband.

This King left a Son, call'd Mahomet, after him, as our most grave and faithful Traveller does assure us, who being come to the Crown, commanded that great Poet, Hakim Fardauh, to present him with some Veres, for every one of which the Sophy promised him a Ducat;

the

Olearius, Am
baffadors Tra-
vels through
Perſia. lib. 5'.

Olearius, Am
baffadors Tra-
vels through
Perſia. lib. 6.
p. 240.

6

The Natural History

SECT. I.

the Poet in a short time made sixty thousand, which at
this day are accounted the best that ever were made in
Perſia, and Hakim Fardauſi eſteem'd the Poet Laureat of
the Eaſt; the Treasurers thinking it too great a fum for
a Poet, would have put him off with half, whereupon
Fardauſi made other Verſes, wherein he reproach'd the
King with Avarice, and told him, he could not be of
Royal Extraction, but muſt be rather deſcended from
a Shoemaker, or a Baker: Mahomet being netled, made
complaint to the Queen his Mother, who ſuſpecting that
the Poet had diſcovered her Amours, ingeniously con-
fessed to the King her Son, that his Father being Impo-
tent through his exſ excessive drinking of Cahwa, or Coffee,
the ſancted a Baker belonging to the Court, and ſaid, if
it had not been for the Baker, the young King had never
been what he was; ſo left the buſineſs ſhould take wind,
the Poet got his full reward. But let us return a little into
our old ſerious road.

Coffee is ſaid to be very good for thofe, that have taken too much Drink, Meat, or Fruit, as the Learned Schroder will inform you, as alſo againſt ſhortneſs of Breath, and Rheum, and it is very famous in old obſtructions, ſo that all the ſEgyptian, and Arabian Women, are obſerv'd to promote their Monthly courses with Coffee, and to tipple conſtantly of it all the time they are flowing, for which we have the undoubted authority of Prosper Alpinus, who ſpent ſeveral years amongst them. It is found to eafe the running Scorbutick Gout, or Rheumatism, as Mollenbroccius has affirm'd.

As for the manner of preparing Coffee, it is ſo eafe,
and ſo commonly known, that we need not mention it,
only we may obſerve, that ſome of the Aſtatick Nati-
ons make their Coffee of the Coat, or Husk of the
Berry, which they look upon to be much ſtronger, and
more efficacious than the Berry it ſelf, ſo that they take

a

Schroder's Appendix. p. 24.

Proſp. Alpinus
de Med. Egyp-
tor. 1. 4. de
Plant. Egypti-
ac. ap. 118. ad
p. 122.

Mollenbrock.
de Arthrit.
baga corbul.
p. 114.

SECT. I. of COFFEE.

7

a lefs quantity of it; but the *Europæans* do peel and
take off the outward skin of the Berries, which being
fo prepar'd, are Bak'd, and Burnt, afterwards grinded
to Powder; one Ounce of which they mix commonly
with a Pint and a half of hot Water, which has been
boyl'd half away, then they are digefted together, till
they are well united.

The *Laplanders* prepare a very good Drink out of *History of Lapland*. *Juniper-Berries*, which some prefer before either *Coffee*, or *Thee*, of which Berries we will Discourse in a Tract at the end of these Sheets.

THE

SECT. II.

of THEE.

us, there is a great Controversie amongst the Herbalifts,
to what Classis this Thee may be reduc'd, *Bontius* compares it to the Leaves of our Wild Daisy; for which *Simon Pauli* is very angry with him, and gives very strong Arguments, that *Thee* is the Leaves of a fort of *Myrtle*, for out of the Leaves of *Myrtle*, a Liquor may be made, resembling *Thee* in all qualities, therefore the Jefuite *Trigautius* is of an opinion, that several of our *European* Forrefts and Woods do abound with a true *Thee*, it being obferv'd to grow in great plenty in *Tartary* (which lies under the fame Climate with many Countries of Europe,) from whence, some Learned men think, it came Originally, for it has not been long known to the *Chinefes*, they having no antient name, or Hieroglyphick Characters for *Thee*, and *Cha* being an antient *Tartarian* Word, befides it is known to several Merchants, that a great quantity of *Thee* is brought yearly out of *Tartary* into *Perſia*, we are all acquainted with the several great Conqueſts, which the *Tartars* have made in *China*, ſo that the *Chinefes* have had several opportunities of learning the uſe of *Thee* from the *Tartars*, in whose Country it is obſerv'd to be in great plenty, and of little value; yet the Inhabitants of *China* and *Japan* have a great eſteem, and opinion of it, where they are as much employ'd, and concern'd for their Harveſt of *Thee*, (which is in Spring) as the *Europeans* are for their Vintage, as several Jefuits inform us in their Obſervations of *China*: for the Noblemen, and Princes of *China* and *Japan*, drink *Thee* at all hours of the Day, and in their Viſits it is their whole Entertainment, the greatest Perſons of Quality Boyling, and Preparing the *Thee* themselves, every Palace, and Houſe, being furniſht with convenient Rooms, Furnaces, Veffels, Pots and Spoons for that purpose, which they value at a higher rate than we do Diamonds, Gems, and Pearls, as *Tulpius*

aſſures

Bontius de Medicina Indor. lib. 2. p. 97.

Simon|Pauli de Thee, p. 19,20.

Trigautius de regno Chinae. lib. 3.

Simon Pauli de Thee. p. 25.

Olearius, Am-baffadors Tra-vels in Perſia. p. 241.

Philof. Transf. aff. N. 49.

Nicol Tulpii Obſervat. Med. lib. 4 (c. 60.)

B

10

The Natural History

SECT. II.

Alexandër de Rhodes
Voyages & missions
Apostoliques.

Kircheri China
illustrata. lib. 4.

Thevenotis Hi-
stor. legat. Ba-
tavor. in China.
Tom. 3. Phi-
lolog Transact.
N. 14.
Varenius de-
script. Regni
Japon. c. 23.
p. 16r.

Boyles exper.
Philos. p. 94.

Simon Pauli de
Thee. p. 67.

assures us from the relations of several great *Dutch-men*, who travell'd *China* in the *Quality of Ambassadors*, and made great Observations of those rich Stones, and Woods, out of which the aforefaid Materials were made.

As for the *Qualities and Vertues of Thee*, these few following Observations may give satisfaction, that it makes us active and lively, and drives off sleep, every Drinker of it cannot but be sensible. The great Jesuit Alexander de Rhodes, always Cur'd himself of a Periodical pain of his Head by Thee, and having often occasion to fit up whole Nights in China to take the Confessors of dying People, he found the great benefit of Thee in those great watchings, so that he was always as vigorous, and fresh the next day, as though he had refted all night; nay, he says, that he fates up fix nights together by the affiftance of Thee. Kircher himself took notice of Thee for clearing the Head, and opening the Urinary-paflages; and it was obferv'd by those concern'd in the Dutch Embaſſy to China, that the Chineſes did ſpit very little, and were ſeldom ſubject to the Stone, and Gout, which their Phyſicians imputed to their frequent Drinking of Thee: it is a common Proverb in Japan, *Ilenè sanus non ſit? Bibit de optimâ Tſhâ*, What, is not he well? He Drinks of the beſt Thee. I know ſome that Celebrate good Thee for preventing Drunkenneſs, taking it before they go to the Tavern, and uſe it alſo very much after a Debauch, Thee being found so friendly to their Stomachs, and Heads: several Ambassadors find the advantage of it in preferving them from the accidents and inconveniences of a bad Foreign Air; but that which gives the greatest commendation to Thee, is the good Character which our famous Country-man, Mr. Boyl, gives of it in his Experimental Philofophy, where he ſays, that it deferves those great prafes which are commonly beſtow'd upon it. Yet *Simon Pauli* exclaims againſt the uſe.

SECT. II. of THEE.

11

use of Thee, as a great dryer, and promoter of old Age,
and as a thing unnatural, and foreign to the European
Complexions. But Schroder answers Pauli very mild-
ly, supposing him to speak only of the abuse, and extra-
vagant management of Thee; for otherwife Rheubarb,
China, Saffafras, and Saunders, should be banished from
our Shops by the fame reason, they being Dryers, and
foreign to us English-men, therefore we may conclude
Thee innocent, and beneficial.

The Chineſes gather the Leaf in the Spring one by one,
and immediately put them to warm in an Iron Kettle o-
ver the Fire, then laying them on a fine light Mat, rolls
them together with their Hands; the Leaves thus roll'd
are again hang'd over the Fire, and then roll'd cloſer to-
gether, till they are dry, then put up carefully in Tin
Veffels to preſerve them from moisture: thus they pre-
pare the beſt Leaves, that yield the greatest rates, but
the common ordinary ones are only dry'd in the Sun,
yet in the Shade is doubtles much better, ( as the inge-
nious Author of *Vinetum Britannicum* does well obſerve)
the Sun having a great power to attract the vertue out
of any Vegetable after its ſeparation from its nouriſher,
the Earth. One ſpoonful of this prepar'd Thee is enough
for one quart of boyl'd Water.

Vinet. Britan.
P. 140.

There are ſeveral ways and methods for preparing
Thee. The *Japonians* powder the Plant upon a Stone,
and so put it into hot Water. The *Chineſes* boyl the
Leaves with Water and a little Sugar. Some *Europeans*
make Tinctures, Infusions, Conſerves, and Extracts of
Thee. The *Tartars* are obſerv'd to boyl their Thee in
Milk with a little Salt, which way they think is the ve-
ry beſt.

Nicol. Tulpii
obſervat. Med.
lib. 4. c. 60.

Thevenots Hi-
stor. legat. Bel-
gic. ad ſinenſt-
um regem.

The Inhabitants of Carolina prepare a Liquor out of
the Leaves of an American Tree, which is very like Thee,
and equal to it in every respect, Dr. Mundy obſerves that

Dr. Mundy de
potuentis.
P. 353.

Schroderi Ap-
pend. ad Phar-
macop. p 28.

B 2

the