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THE
NATURAL HISTORY
OF THE
' T E A - T R E E,
\ , -
WITH OBSERVATIONS ON*
THE MEDICAL QUALITIES OF TEA
AND ON THE.
EFFECTS OF TEA-DRINKING.
LONDON:
PRINTED BY J. NICHOLS; FOR CHARLES DILL Y.
I799»-
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( iii )
ADVERTISEMENT.
IN the year 1769 was printed an inaugural differtation, in- tituled, “ Obfervationes ad vires These pertinentes.”
In the year 1772 was publifhed, “ The Natural Hiftory of “ the Tea -tree, with Obfervations on the Medical Qualities of “ Tea, and Effects of Tea-drinking,” which not only contained a tranflation of the Thetis, but likewife the natural hiftory of this vegetable, and which having been long out of print, it was thought a fecond edition would be favourably received by the publick.
In Sir George Staunton's Embafty to China, lately publifhed, there are fome remarks on Tea, which are occafionally referred to in the prefent edition ; and they are referred to with the fatisfaCtion of confirming the relation firft offered to the publick in 1772. •
As the Preface inferted at that time affords fome hints re-* fpeCting the introduction of the Tea-tree into Europe, it is pre- fixed to the prefent edition..
PREFACE
( V )
PREFACE
TO
THE FIRST EDITION, 1772.
The fubjeCt of the following Eftay being now in general ufe among the inhabitants of this kingdom, as well as in many other parts of Europe, and conftituting a large part of our com- merce, it cannot but afford pleafure to the curious to poffefs the hiftory of a fhrub, with the leaves of which they are fo well acquainted.
Many treatifes have been publifhed on the ufes and effects of Tea ; a few writers have likewife given fome circumftances re- lative to its natural hiftory and preparation, the indefatigable Kscmpfer particularly ; but thefe circumftances lie fo difperfed, and the accounts which have been given of the virtues and efficacy of Tea are in general fo contradictory, and void of true medical obfervation, that it ft ill feemed no improper fubjeCl for a candid difeuffion. The reader may at leaft have the fatis- faCtion of feeing, in a narrow compafs, the principal opinions relative to this fubjeCt.
W ithin
I
vi PREFACE.
Within thefe three or four years we have been fuccefsful enough to introduce into this kingdom a few genuine Tea plants. There was formerly, I am told, a very large one in England, the property of an Eaft-India captain, who kept it fome years, and refufed to part with either cuttings or layers. This died, and there was not another left in the kingdom. A large plant was not long fince in the pofTeilion of the great Linnaeus, but, I am informed, it is now dead. I know feveral gentlemen, who have fpared neither pains nor expence to procure this ever- green from China ; but their bed endeavours have, in general, proved unfuccefsful. For, though many ftrong and good plants were fhipped at Canton, and all poflible care taken of them during the voyage, yet they foon grew fickly, and but one, till of late, furvived the pafTage to England.
The largeft Tea plant in this kingdom is, I believe, at Kew ; it was prefented to that royal feminary by John Ellis, Efq. who raifed it from the feed. But the plant at Sion-houfe, belong- ing to the Duke of Northumberland, is the firft that ever flowered in Europe ; and an elegant drawing has been taken from it in that rtate, with its botanical defcription. The en- graver has done juftice to his original drawing, which is now in the pofTeffion of that great promoter of natural hiftory, Dr. Fothergiil, to whom I have been indebted for many dried fpe~ cimens and flowers of the Tea-tree from China. If the reader
compare
PREFACE.
Vll
compare this plate with the following defcription, he will have as clear an idea of this exotic fhrub, as can at prefent be ex- hibited.
A few young Tea plants have lately been introduced into fome of the motl curious botanic gardens about London ; hence it feems probable that this very diftinguifhed vegetable will be- come a denizen of England, and fuch of her colonies as may be deemed moft favourable to its propagation.
In regard to the effects of Tea on the human conftitution, one might have imagined that long and general ufe would have fur- n iflied fo many indifputable proofs of its good and bad properties, that nothing could be eafier than to determine thefe with precition : yet fo difficult a thing is it to eftabliffi phyfical certainty in regard to the operation of food or medicines on the human body, that our knowledge in general, even with refpedl to this article, is very imperfedf. Neverthelefs, I have endeavoured to avail myfelf of what has been written on this fubject by my prede- cdlors with the appearance of reafon, as well as of the con- vocation of learned and ingenious men now living, together with fuch experiments and obfervations as have occurred to me, fo as to furnilh the means of a more extent! ve knowledge of the
With
I
Vill
PREFACE.
With refpeCt to the prefent edition, fubfequent information has enabled me to enlarge it with fome important additions. Since the period of the original publication, the Tea-tree has been introduced into many of our gardens, and afforded the means of afcertaining its botanical characters, I have, at the fame time, the pleafure to obferve, that the firfl edition has received the approbation of fome of the moft diftinguifhed botanifts. Linnaeus, as well as Haller, as foon as they had perufed it, conveyed to me their approbation, in the kindeft manner : Murray and Cullen, and recently Schreber, have made frequent references to its authorities. If thefe diftinguifhed characters have approved the former, I am encouraged to hope that the prefent edition Mall not be lefs favourably received by the publick.. ,
CONTENTS.
( ix )
I
C O N T E N T S.
»
• V
PART I.
The Natural History of the Tea Tree.
*
Section I. Clafs and Order - - page i
II. Synonyma - 8
III. Authors upon Tea - io
IV. Origin of Tea - - 19
V. Soil and Culture - - 26
VI. Gathering the Leaves - - 29
VII. Method of curing or preparing Tea 33
VIII. Varieties of Tea - - 38
IX. Drinking of Tea - - 48
X. Succedanea - - 50
XI. Preferving the Seeds for Vegetation 54
PAR T II.
/ >
The Medical History of Tea 59
b THE
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THE
NATURAL HISTORY
OF THE
T E A-T REE
PART THE. first.
SECTION I. CLASS XIII. ORDER I.
Perianthium quinquepartitum ,
minimum , planum ,
fegmentis rotundis, obtufis ,
perfiflentibus. (Fig-
i. K.)
A Perianthium quinquepartite, very fmall, fiat,
the fegments round, obtufe,
permanent. (Fig. i . K.)
K. Calyx,
Fier. t. o.
POLYANDRIA MONOGYNIA.
K. The Ca- lyx, Fig. 1,2,3.10.
B
(
2 )
C. Corolla, F. i. 3, 4, 5> 7, 8.
Pet ala /ex, fubrotunda ,
concava : duo exteriora 4. 7. C. C.) minora, inaequalia,
Nondum expanfa : (F. 3. C.)
quatuor interiora, (F. 6. C. C. C. C. 8c F. 5.) magna, c equalia ,
antequam decidunt, recurvata. (F. 8.
• C.C.)
The Petals fix', fubrotund, or roundifh. concave :
two exterior, (F. 4.
7. C. C.)
lefs,
unequal,
the flower before it is fully blown :
(F. 3. C.)
four interior (F. 6. C. C. C. C. and F. S-)
large,
equal,
before they fall off, recurvate. (F. 8. C. C.)
(F--
C. The Co-
ROLLA, F.
1 * 3» 4 » 5 j 6, 7, 8.
1 Among feveral hundred fpecimens of dried Tea-flowers that I have examined, fcarcely one in twenty was perfebb Some had three petals only, fome nine, and others the feveral intermediate numbers. The greateft number conflfted of fix large petals, and externally three lefler ones of the fame form. But the flowers, which blofibmed on the Tea- plant belonging to the duke of Northumberland, from which this de- fcription is taken, conflfted in general of ftx petals. One of the flowers indeed appeared to have eight petals ; however, the number in the flowers in moft plants vary conftderably, which may account for the miftake of Dr. Hill, and profeflor Linnaeus vwho defcribed this plant on Dr. Hill’s authority), who make the green and. bohea Tea two diftinbt fpecies, giving nine petals to the former, and fix to the latter. See Amoen. Acad. Vol. VII. p.248. Hill. Exot. t. 22. Kaempfer. Amcen. Exot. p. 607. Breyn. Exot. Plant. Cent. 1. p. 111. Hift. de. 1’Acad. des Sciences, *776> P- 52.
Stamina,
Stamina, F. 6. 9, io, ii.
( 3
'f. Filamenta nu- ttier of a, (ducenta circiter.) (f. a. F. 6. 9.)
friiformict.
Pi STILLUM,
F. I. IO. 12.* Len-
i
te audtum.
corolla breviora.
a. Anthe r je cor- datae, bi- loculares.
(F. 10.
11.
Lente
au6la.)
The Sta- mens, F, 6. 9, 10, 11.
g. Germen globofo- trigonum. (F. 1 .
10. 12.)
s. Stylus fimplex, ad apicem trifidus, (F. 12.)
Petalis Stamini- bufque delap- fis, a fe mu- tuo recedentes, divaricantes, &
ThePisTiL- LUM, F. I. IO. 12. *
magnified.
f. The Filaments numerous % (f.
a. Fig. 6. 9.) (about 200.) filiform,
fhorter than the Corolla, a. The An- the r a s cordate, bi- locular \
(F. 10.
11.
magni-
fied.)
g. The Germen three globular bodies joined (F. 1. 10. 12.) s. The Style fimple, at the apex trifid, (F.
13.)
After the petals and ftamens are fallen off, they part from each other, fpread o-
1 In a flower I received from that accurate naturalift, J. Ellis, F. R. S. See. I counted upwards of 280 filaments ; and, in another I had from Dr. Fothergili, there appeared to be nearly the fame number. ' ,
1 Kaempfer deferibes the Anther® as being Angle.
B 2
( 4 )
longitudine auc- ta, marcefcentcs.
PlSTILIUM,
F. i. io.
12 * Len- te audtum.
ThePiSTiL-
lum, F. i. t. Stigmata fimpli- io. 12. *
cia. (F. 1.9. 10. maSnified'
(F. I. 12.)
pen, increafe in length, and wi- ther on the Ger- men. (F. 1. 12.) t. The Stigmas limple. (F. 1. 9. 10. 12.)
P. PERICAR- DIUM, F. I.
J3> H-
Capsula ex tribus globis coalite, (F. x3‘)
trilocularis, (F. 14.)
apice trifariam de- hifcens. (F. 13.)
p. The Pe-
RICARPI- UM, F. I. 13. 14.
' A Capsule in the form of three globular bodies united, (F. 13.) trilocular, (F. 14.) gaping at the top in three directions.
I (F. 13.)
S. Semina, F. 14.
folitaria , glob of a,
introrfum angulata .
S. The Seeds, F.
14.
fingle,
globofe,
angular on the in- ward hde.
T. Truncus, F. 1.
\ ramofus, j lignofus, | teres :
T. The Trunk % F. 1.
ramofe, ligneous, round :
ram is
1 Authors differ widely refpedling the fize of this tree. Le Compte fays, it grows of various fizes from two feet to two hundred, and fometimes fo thick, that two men can fcarcely grafp the trunk in their arms : though he afterwards oblerves, that the Tea-trees, he faw in the province of Fokien, did not exceed five or fix feet in
height.
( 5 )
T. Truncus, F. i.
Pedunculi, (F. i. p.)
ramis alternis, vagis,
” rigidiufaulis, cinerafcentibus,
prope apicem rufe- fcentibus.
V-
r axillares, (F. i. p.) alterni, folitarii, curvati, uniflori,
, incrafTati, (F. i. 2.
7-)
ftipulati : ftipula folitaria, fubulata, 1 (F. 1. 2.
. eredla. J 7-9 d-)
T. The Trunk, F. 1.
Peduncles
F. 1.
the branches alter- nate,
vague, or placed in no regular order ,
ftiffifh,
inclining to an afh color,
towards the top reddifh.
•axillary, (F. i.p.) alternate, hngle, curved, uniflorous, incraffate, (F. 1. 2,
ftipulate : the ftipula tingle, tubulate, *) (F. 1. 2. erect.
\(F.i.2.
J 7 9-d.)
height. Journey through the empire of China. London, 1697, 8vo. p. 228. Du Halde quotes a Chinefe author, who defcribes the height of different Tea-trees, from one to thirty feet. Description generale hiftorique, chronologique, politique, et phy- fique de la Chine, Paris, 1755. Fol. 4 Tom. Hiftory of China, London, 1736. 8vo. Vol. IV. page 22. See alfo Guil. Pifo in Itinere Braftlica.
But Kasmpfer, who is chiefly to be depended upon, confines the full growth to about a man’s heighth. Amoen. Exot. Lemgov. 171a, 4to. pag. 605. Probably this may be a juft medium ; for Ofbeck fays, that he faw Tea-fhrubs in flower-pots* not above an ell high. Voyage to China, Vol. I. p. 247. See alfo Eckeberg’s ac- count of the Chinefe hufbandry, Vol. II. p. 303.
1 When the peduncles increafe in thicknefs towards their extremities.
alterna.
1
V
■
Pedunculi, (F. i.p.)
( 6 ) >
alterna, j alternate,
elliptica, elliptical,
obtufe ferrata, mar- °btufely ferrate,
F. i. *
ginibus inter den- tes recurvatis.
F. Folia, F. i. 15, 1 6,
17’
* Lentc au6ta,
apice margi- nata, (F.
IS- e.) bafi integer- rima, (F.
16. 17.)
glabra,
nitida,
bullata,
fubtus venofa,
confiftentia, petiolata :
Petiolis breviflimis, (F. 1. 16. 17. b.)
edges between the teeth recur- vate.
' apex emar-‘ ginate,
(F. IS- C'')
at the bafe
F. The Leaves, F. 1. 15, 16, 17.
* mag- nified.
very en- tire, (F.
16. 17.) fmooth, glofTy, bullate %
venofe on the under fide,
of a firm texture, on foot-fialks :
The foot-fialks very fhort, (F. 1. 16.
17. b.)
1 No author has hitherto remarked this obvious circumftance ; even Kaempfer himfelf fays, that the leaves terminate in a fharp point. Amoen. Exot. p. 61 1.
2 When the upper furface of the leaf rifes in feveral places in roundifli fwellings, hollow underneath.
fubtus
( 7 )
F. Folia, F. i. 15. i 6. ’
fubtustereti-1 *
^r. 10.
bus, b.
* Lente auCtis.)
fupra piano - canali- culatis. (F. 17. b.* Lente audits.)
F. The Leaves, F. 1. 15, 16. 17.
round on the under fide, gibbous, or bunching
(F. 16.
b.
* mag- nified.)
out,
on the upper-fide, flattifh , and fi ight- ly channelled. (F. 17. b. * magni- . fied.)
Nomina trivialia Thea bohea & viridis.
he common names bohea and green Teas r.
There is only one fpecles of this plant ; the difference of green and bohea Tea depending upon the nature of the foil, the culture, and manner of drying the leaves. It has even been obferved, that a green Tea-tree, planted in the bohea country, will produce bohea Tea, and fo the contrary *.
1 Whether the word Tea is borrowed from the Japanefe Tsjaa, or the Chinefe <Theh, is not of much importance. By this name, with very little difference in pro- nunciation, the plant here treated of is well known in moft parts of the world.
2 I have examined feveral hundred flowers, both from the bohea and green Tea countries, and their botanical characters have always appeared uniform. See Di- rections for bringing over feeds and plants from diftant countries, by John Ellis, Efq. Sir George Staunton’s Embalfy, Vol. II. p. 464, fays, “ Every information received “ concerning the Tea plant concurred in affirming that its qualities depended upon “ the foil in. which it grew, and the age at which the leaves were plucked off the “ tree, as well as upon the management of them afterwards.”
y
SECTION
( 8 )
%
SECTION xi.
,
SYNONYM A.
Ma n y authors have at different times treated upon this fubjedt ; fome who never faw the Tea-tree, as well as others who have feen it x. I fhall enumerate thofe who are men- tioned in the Species plantarum of Linnaeus \
Thea ; Hortus Cliffort. 204. Mat. Med. 264. Hill. Exot. t. 22.
Thee; Kaempfer. Japan. 605. t. 606.
Thee frutex; Barthol. Adt. 4. p. 1. t. 1. Bont. Jav. Amftel. fol. 87 ad 88.
Thee Sinenfium ; Breyn. Cent. 111. t. 112. incon. 17. t. 3. Bocc. Muf. 1 1 4. t. 94.
Chaa ; Cafp. Bauhin. Pinax Theatri Botanici. Bafil. 1623. 4to.
.147.
Evonymo aff nis arbor orientalis nucifera, flore rofeo ; Pluk. Aim. Botan. Stirp. nov. tradens. 1200. Lond. 1705. fol. 139. t. 88. fig. 6.
In the Adta Haffnienfia, we meet with the firff figure of this tree ; but, as it was taken from a dried fpecimen, it does not
1 See Jac. Breynii Exotic. Cent. I. p. 114, 115.
2 Vol. I. p. 734.
illuftrate
( 9 )
illuflrate the fubje(T very well. Bontius publifhed another, and though drawn in India, where he might have feen the plant, it does not much furpafs the preceding. The figure given by Plukenet is better than either of the former ; and after his, Breynius publifhed one hill better : but of all the engravings for- merly executed,- that given by Kaempfer muft be allowed to be the moft accurate 1 ; yet even this icon, like all the others pub- lifhed by this induhrious naturalift, is extremely imperfect ; al- though he certainly faw the living plants which he has repre- fented, however expert the Chinefe may be in deception \
1 Amcenit. Exotic, p. 6 18, et feq. See alfo his hiftory of Japan by Scheuchzer. Lond. 2 Vol. Fol. App. p. 3. Geoffr. Mat. Med. Vol. II. p. 276. Other figures of this fhrub are reprefented in Pifo Itinere Brafilico, Kircher’s China Illuftrata, and Dutch Embafly.
* Olbeck, in his voyage to China, fpeaking of the Camellia, fays, <e I bought one of a blind man in the ftreet, which had fine double white and red flowers. But, by farther obferving it in my room, I found that the flowers were taken from ano- ther ; and one calyx was fo neatly fixed in the other with nails of bamboo, that I fhould fcarce have found it out, if the flowers had not begun to wither. The tree itfelf had only buds, but no open flowers. I learned from this inftance, that who- ever will deal with the Chinefe, muft make ufe of his utmoft circumfpecftion, and even then muft run the rifle of being cheated.” Vol. VII. p. 17. Mocquet in his Travels and Voyages, An. 1606, 1. 4. p. 264, relates a curious piece of deception pradtifed by a Chinefe of Canton. “ A Portuguefe,” he fays, “ bought a roafted duck at a cook’s fhop in Canton. Seeing it look well, and appearing to be very fat, he carried it with him on board his veflel, to eat it ; but, when he had put his knife within it to cut it up, he found nothing but the fltin, which was upon fome paper, ingenioufly fitted up with little flicks, which made up the body of the duck ; the Chinefe having very dexteroufly plucked away the flefli, and then fo well accom- modated this fltin, that it feemed to be a true duck.”
c
SECTION
( IO )
-.SECTION III.
AUTHORS UPON TEA.
Besides the Authors already mentioned, feveral others have given fome account of this exotic ever-green, the principal of which are added for the farther information of tliofe who may be defirous of confulting thefe writers on the fubjedt.
Johann. Petr. Maffeus rerum Indicarum libro vi. pag. 108. & lib. xii. pag. 242. Ludov. Almeyd. in eodem opere lib. iv, feledt. epift.
Petr, jarric. tom. III. lib. 11. cap. xvn.
Matth. Ric. de Chriftian. exped. apud Sinas, lib. 1. cap. vn.
L. Baptiha Ramufio, le Navigation’! e viaggi nelli quali fi Contienne la Defcrittione dell’ Africa, del paefe del prete Joanni del mar Roilo, Calicut, ilole Moluchefe la Navigazione interno il mondo. Yenet. 1550. 1563. 1588. 3 Vol. Fob Vol. III.
P- x5-
Tranflation in Englifh of Giovanni Botaro *, an eminent Italian author. Printed in 1590.
1 This writer obferves, that the Chinefe have alfo an herb, out of which they prefs a delicate juice, which ferves them for a drink inftead of wine : it alfo prefen es their health, and frees them from all thofe evils “ that the immediate ul'e of wine doth breed unto us.” By the ufe the modern Chinefe make of Tea (who are a fober people) it can be nothing elfe. Anderion’s Chronolog. Deduction of Commerce.
Texeira,
( II )
Texeira, Relaciones del origen de los Reyes de Periia y de Hormuz. Amberes, 1610. p. 19.
Fifcher's Sibirifche Gefchichte, 1639. Vol. II. p. 694.
Alois Frois, in Relat. Japonica.
Nicol. Trigaut. de Regno Chinae, Cap. in. p. 34.
Linfcot. de Infula Japonica, Cap. xxvi. p. 35. Ha. 1599. Fol. et Belgian Amft. 1644. Fol.
Bernhard. Varen. in defcriptione Regni Japonise, Cap. xxm. p. 16 1.
Johan. Bauhin. Hiftor. Univerf. Plantarum, 1597. Tom. III. lib. xxvii. cap. 1. p. 5. b.
Alex. Rhod. Sommaire des divers voyages et millions Apof- toliques du R. P. Alexandre de Rhodes de la compagnie de Jelus a la Chine, et autres Royaumes de l’orient, avec fon retour de la Chine, a Rome; depths l’annee, 1618, jufques a l’annee, 165 3* P- 25.
Dionyhi Jcncquet, Sprpium aliquot paulo obfcurius officinis, Arabibus aliifque dendminatarum, per Cafp. Bauhin. explicat. p. 25. Ed. 1612.
Simon Pauli, Quadripartitum Botanicum, claffe fecunda, pag. 44. Ibidemque claffe' tertia, pag. 493.
Simon Pauli, Comment, de abufu Tobaci et herbse These, Rollock. 1635. 4to. Strafburgh. 1665. Argent. 1665. 4to. Francf. 1708. 4to. London, 1746. 8vo.
Wilhelm. Leyl. epiftol. apud Simon Pauli in Comment, de abufu Tobaci, See. p. 15. b.
Jacob. Bontii de Medicina Indorum, lib. iv. Leid. 1642. 1 2mo. et cum Pifone, Leid. 1658. Fol. Belgise, Oofl: en Weit- indiiche waarande, Amftel. 1694. 8vo. Anglice. An Account
C 2 of
( i* )
of the Difeafes, Natural Hiftory, and Medicines, of the Eaft Indies: London, 1769, 8vo.
Beginne ende voortgang van de Vereenighde Neederlande, 1646, 2 vol. et fub titulo, Recueil des Voyages faits pour L’Etabliffement de la Campagnie des Indes Orientales, Amftel. 1702. i2mo. 10 Vol.
Joann. Nieuzofs, Gezantfehap an den Keizer van China, p. 122. a.
/ Erafmi Franciff Ofi-und Weft-Indifcher wie auch Sinefifcher Luft-und Stats- Garten, p. 291.
Nicol. Tulpii, Obferv. Medic, lib. iv. cap. lx. p. 380. Leidse, 1641. 8vo.
Adam. Olearii, Perfionifche Reife-Befchreibung, 1633. p. 325. lib. v. cap. xvii. p. 599. Fol. 1656. Hamburg. 1698. AmfteL 1666. 4to.
Johan. Albert, von Mandelflo, Morgenlandifche Reife-Befch- reibung, lib. 1. cap. xi. p. 39. Edit. 1656.
Olai Wormii, Muf. lib. 11. cap. xiv. p. 165. Hafn. 1642. 4to. Gulielm. Pifo, in Itinere Brafilico, Cliviae, 1661. 8vo. Athanaf. Kircher, Chin. Uluflrat. Ed. 1658. cum figura Fru£t. These.
Simon de Molinariis, Ambrofia Ahatica, five de virtute et ufu These, Genuse, 1672. 12 mo.
De Comiers, le bon ufage du Thee, du Coffee, et du Cho^ colat, pour la Prefervation et pour la Guerifon des Malades, Paris, 1687. i2mo. •
Marcus Mappus, de Thea, Coffea, et Chocolata. Argent. 1675 et 1695. 4to.
Oliv.
4
( x3 )
Oliv. Dappers, Befchryvinge des Keizerryts van Tailing or Sina, Amftel. 1680. Fol. p. 226.
Nic. Blegny, du bon ufage du The, du Caffe, et da Chocolat. Lyon. 1680. nmo. Abrege dutraitedu Caffe, &c. Lyon. 1687.
1 amo.
John Overton, Voyage to Surat, London, 1696. 8vo.
John Overton, Effay upon the Nature and Qualities of Tea, London, 1735. 8vo.
Paul Sylveftre du Four, de Fufage du The, Caphe, et Cho- colat. London, 1671. et auftius, 1684. 1686. iamo. Hunc libellum Jacobus Sponius Latine reddidit, et edidit cum titulo, Tr. nov. de potu Theae, CofFeae,. Chocolatae, Paris. 1685. iamo. cum hguris.
Pechlin, Theophilus Bibaculus, Franckfort, 1684. 4to.
Franc. Mich. Difdier, Befchreibung des Caffce, The, Choco- late, und Tobaks, Hamb. 1684. iamo.
Bern. Albini, Difputatio de Thea, Francf. Viadr. 1684. 4to.
Arnold. Montan. Gudenfwaerdige Gefandtchappen aen de Kaifarenvan Japan. 1684.
J. Chamberlane, manner of making Tea, Coffee, and Cho- colate, Loud. 1685. iamo. p. 46.
Republiques des LettreS, tom. III. Fev. 1685.
Petri Petivi, Carmen de Thea ; et Joh. Georg. Heinichen de Theae encomiis. Lugdun. 1685* 4to.
Corn. Bontekoe, van The, Coffy, en Chocolate. Haag. 1685. 8vo. Spanius de Thea, Coffea, et Chocolata.
Chriffian. Kurfner, de potu Theae. Marpurg, 1681.
Jan.
»
( 14' )
Jan. Abraham, a Gehema, Weetftreit des Chinefifchen Thea mit Warmen Waffer Berlin, 1685, 8vo. Francf. 1696. 8vo. fub titulo, Zwanzig gefundheits regeln.
Steph. Blankaart gebrugk en mifbruyk van de Thee. Haag. 1686. 8vo.
The Natural Hiftory of Coffee, Tea, Chocolate, and To- bacco, with a Tra6l of the Elder and Juniper Berries, Lond. 1683. 4to.
Henrici Cofmii, magnae naturae oeconomia cum demonftra- tione Theae, Coffeae, Chocolatae, Francf. Lipf. 1687. 1 2mo.
Elias Comerarius, in difputationibus de Thea et Coffea, Tubingae, 1694. 8vo.
Le Compte’s Journey through the Empire of China. Lond. 1697. 8vo. p. 228.
Joh. Ludov. Apinus, obf. 70. Decur. 3. Mifcell. Curiof. 1697. Andr. Cleyerus, Dec. 2. an. 4ti. pag. 7. Dan. Crugerus, Dec. 2. Ann. 4th p. 141. Riedlinus Lin. Med. Ann. 4ti. Dom. Ambrof. Stegmann, de Decodt. Theae. Vol. V. p. 36.
Sir Thomas Pope Blount’s Natural Fliflory, 8vo. London, 1693.
Wilh. Ulrich Waldfchmidt, de ufu et abufu Theae in genere. Kiel. 1692. 8 vo.
Ejufdem, an potus herbae Theae ecficcandi et emaciandi vir- tute pollerat ? Kiel, 1702. 4to.
P. Duncan, Avis Salutaire contre l’Abus du Coffe, du Cho- colat, et du The. Rotterdam, 1705. 8vo. London, 1766. 8 vo.
Groot mifbruyk van de Theae en Coffae. Haag, 1695. 4to.
Philofophical
( 1 s )
Philofophical Tranfadlions, V. I. an. 1665, 1666. Monday, July 2, 1766.
Plukenetii, Amalth. Botan. Londini, 1705, p. 79. 139.
Renaudot, anciennes relations de la Chine et des Indes. Faris, 1718, p. 31.
Kaempfer, Amoenit. Exotic. Lcmgov. 4to. 1712, p. 618.
Les Lettres curieufes et edifiantes des Jefuites, paffim.
Car. Frid. Luther, de potu These, Kiel, 1712. 4to.
J. Cunningham, de variis fpeciebus Theae, Agricultura Chi- nenfi, &c. n. 280.
Levuh. Frid. Meifner, Difputatio inaugur, de Thea, Coffea, Chocolata. Nuremb. 1721, 8vo.
Botanicum Officinale, or a compendious Herbal of fuch Plants as are ufed in Phytic, by Jofeph Miller. Lond. 1722. 8vo.
Labat, Nouveau Voyage aux lies de l’Amerique. Paris, 1721.
Jph. Henricus Cohaufon, Niewe Thee Tafel. et de Thea, Coffea, &c. a Chrift. Helwig. Anffiel. 1719. 8vo. Germanice, 1722. 8 vo.
Short's Differtation upon the Nature and Properties of Tea, &c. London, 1730. 4to.
Ancient Accounts of India and China, by two Mahommedan Travellers. London, 1732.
L’Abbe Pluche, Le Spectacle de la Nature, a Paris, 1732.
. Les Entretiens Phyfiques d’Arifte et d'Edoxe, par le pere Reynault. Paris, 1732. tom. 3.
John Arbuthnot, M. D. Effiiy concerning the Nature of Aliments. Lond. 1735. 8vo.
Cafp, Neumann, vom Thee, Coffee, Bier und Wein, Leipf. 1735.
J. Franc,
( 16 )
J. Franc, le Fevre, de natura, ufu, et abufu, Coffeae, Theae, Chocolatae. Vefuntione, 1737. 4to.
R. J araes, Treatife on Tea, Tobacco, Coffee, and Choco- late, tranflated from Simon Pauli, Comment. &c. London, - 1746, 8vo.
Barr. Rarior. 128. t. 904.
D11 Halde, Defcription generale Hiftorique, Chronologique, Politique, et Phylique, de la Chine, Paris, 1735. Fol. 4 vol. Haag. 17 36. 4to. 4 vol. Hidory of Japan, Lond. 1735. 8vo. 4 vol.
Adley's Collection of Voyages, 4 vol. 4to. Lond. 1746.
The true Qualities of Tea. Anonymous. Lond. 1746. 8vo. Petr. Kalms, Wadgbta Refa, Stockholm, 1746. 8vo. tranf- lated by Forder, Lond. 1772. 8vo. 2 vol.
James Stevenfon, Treatife on Tobacco, Tea, Coffee, and Chocolate, Lond. 1746. 8vo.
Chambers’ Encyclopaedia, Lond. 1752. Fol. Tom. II.
Mafon on the Properties of Tea, 1756. 8vo.
The good and bad Effects of Tea conddered, Anonymous, Lond. 1758. 8 vo.
. Linnaei Amoenit. Acad. V. vn. p. 241.
Newmann’s Chemidry, by Lewis. Lond. 1759. 4to. p. 373. Hanway’s Journal of eight Days Journey. London, 1759. 8vo. 2 vol p. 21. vol. II.
Hanway’s Obfervations on the Caufes of the Diffolutenefs amongd the Poor. Lond. 1772. 4to. p. 73. et paffim.
L’Abbe Jacquin, de la Sante utile a tout le Monde, a Paris, 1763. 8vo. p. 190.
Burmanni
( 17 )
Burmanni FI. Indica, Lugd. Bat. 1766. p. 122.
. Linnsei Sp. Plant. Vindobonae. 1746. p. 734. Syft. Nat. Vind. 1770. Tom. II. p. 365.
Llnnaei Mat. Med. Vind. 1773. p. 136. Conf. Murray, ap- par. Med. Bergii Mat. Med. &c.
Encyclopedic, ou Didt. Raifonnd, Neufch. 1765. Fol. Tom. XVI. The.
M. de Begne de Prefle, de Confervateur de la Sante, on Avis fur les Dangers, &c. a Paris. 1763. umo. Dangers du The, p. 1 18.
Concorde de la Geographic, ouvrage poftume de 1’Abb Pluche, Paris, 1764. i2mo.
Will. Lewis, Experimental Hiftory of the Materia Medica, Lond. 1768. 4to. p. 518.
Hart’s Eflays on Hufbandry. Lond. 1768. p. 166.
TifTot on Difeafes incidental to literary and fedentary Perfons, by Kirkpatrick. Lond. 1769. iamo. p. 145.
Romaire Didtionaire d’Hiftoire naturelle. Paris, 1769. 8vo. Milne’s Botanical Didtionary, Lond. 1770. 8vo.
Brookes’ Natural Hiftory. Lond. 1772. 6 vol. with a plate of the Tea Plant.
Ofbeck’s Voyage into China, by Forfter. Lond. 1771. 8vo.
2 vol.
Young’s Farmer's Letters, Vol. I. p. 202. & 299.
Buc'hoz, DiiTertation fur le The fur la recolte, et fur les bons ct mauvais effets de fon infufian. Paris.
Blackwell's herbal. Lond. 1739. t. 351.
Thunberg, Flora Japon. Lipliae, 1784. p. 225.
D
Cullen’s
( 18 )
Cullen’s Mat. Med. Edinb. 1789. Tom. II. p. 309.
Murray, Appar. Medic. Gotting. 1787. Tom. IV. p. 226. Grozier’s general Defcription of China. London. 2 vol. 8vo. Vol. I. p. 442.
Fougeroux de Bondaroi, in Rozier, obf. et mem. fur la Phy- fique, Tom. I. f. 1.
Woodville’s Supplement to Medical Botany. Lond. 1794. p. 1 16, with a figure.
Sir George Staunton, An authentic Account of an Embafly, Lond. 1797. Vol. I. p. 23. and particularly Vol. II. p. 464.
SECTION
( >9 )
SECTION IV.
✓ \
ORIGIN OF TEA.
t: ifUixii'. : >? 'I ' ■ " - "
As China and Japan 1 are the only countries known to us, where the Tea fhrub is cultivated for ufe, we may reafonably conclude, that it is indigenous to one of them, if not to both. What motive firft led the natives to ufe an infufion of Tea in the prefent manner is uncertain ; but probably in order to cor- rect the water, which is faid to be brackifh and ill-tafted in many parts of thofe countries \ Of the good effedts of Tea in fuch cafes, we have a remarkable proof in Kalm’s journey through North America, which his tranflator gives us in the following words :
“ Tea is differently effeemed by different people, and I think we would be as well, and our purfes much better, if we were without tea and coffee. However, I muff be impartial, and mention in praife of Tea, that if it be ufeful, it muff cer- tainly be fo in fummer, on fuch journies as mine, through a
* Some authors add Siam alfo. Vid. Sim. Pauli Comment, et Wilh. Leyl. epift. apud Simon. Pauli comment. Nich. Tulpius obferv. Medicin. lib. iv. cap. lx. Lond. 1641.
1 Le Compte’s Journey through the Empire of China, p. 112. Staunton’s Em- bafly, Vol. IJ. p. 96. and particularly p. 68.
D 2 defart
*
( 2° )
defart country, where one cannot carry wine, or other liquors, and where the water is generally unfit for ufe, as being full of infebls. In fuch cafes it is very pleafant when boiled, and Tea is drank with it ; and I cannot fufficiently defcribe the fine tafle it has in fuch circumfiances. It relieves a weary traveller more than can be imagined, as I have myfelf experienced, to* gether with a great many others, who have travelled through the defart forefts of America : on fuch journies Tea is found to. be alrnofl as neceflary as victuals V*
About the year 1600, Texeira, a Spaniard, faw the dried Tea leaves in Malacca, where he was informed that the Chinefe prepared a drink from this vegetable; and, in 1633, Olearius found this practice prevalent among the Perfians, who pro- cured the plant under the name of Cha orchia, from China, by means of the Uibeck Tartars. In 1639, Starkaw, the Ruffian Ambaffiador, at the Court of the Mogul, Chau Altyn, partook of the infufion of Tea ; and, at his departure, was offered a quantity of it, as a prefent for the Czar Michael Romanof,
1 Kalm’s Travels into North America, Vol. II. p. 314. The following note is added by the ingenious Englifh tranflator in the 2d edition, Vol. II. p. 141 :
“ On my travels through the defart plains, beyond the river Volga, I have had feveral opportunities of making the fame obfervations on Tea ; and every traveller in the fame circumfiances will readily allow them to be very juft.” Forfler, ibid.
See Brydone’s Tour through Sicily and Malta, Let. 6. In letter 20, he fays, “ We have travelled all night on mules ; and arrived here about ten o’clock, overcome with fleep and fatigue. We have juft had an excellent difh of tea, which never fails to cure me of both ; and I am now as frefh as when we fet out.” Captain Forreft, in his Voyage to New Guinea, relates feveral inftances wherein the failors experienced the exhilarating effects of this infufion.
which
{ « ) ;
which the Ambaffador refufed, as being an article for which he had no ufe
This article was firfl introduced into Europe by the Dutch Eafl India Company, very early in the laft century ; and a quantity of it was brought over from Holland about the year 1666% by Lord Arlington and Lord Offory. In confequence of this, Tea foon became known amongfl people of fafhion, and its ufe, by degrees, fince that period, has become general.
It is, however, certain, that before this time, drinking Tea, even in public coffee-houfes, was not uncommon ; for, in 1660, a duty of four-pence per gallon was laid on the liquor made and fold in all coffee-houfes 3.
So
* . •
* Fifcher’s Libirifche Gefchichte, Vol. II. p. 694 — 697. Monthly Magazine, Vol. VI. p. 60.
1 Hanway’s Journal of Eight Days Journey, Vol. II. p. 21. The fame author obferves, that Tea fold at this time for fixty fhillings a pound. Anderfon, in his “ Chronological Deduction of Commerce,” remarks, that the firfl European author that mentions Tea wrote in the year 1590. However, by the preceding catalogue, it will appear, that this fubje6l had been confidered much earlier.,
In Renaudot’s anciennes Relations, Paris, 1718, p. 31, mention is made of two Arabian travellers who vifited China about the year 850 ; and related, that the in- habitants of that empire had a medicinal beverage, named chah or fah, which was prepared by pouring boiling water on the dried leaves of a certain herb, which in- fufion was reckoned an efficacious remedy in various difeafes.
3 By an a6l made this year, the duties of Excife on malt liquor, cyder, perry, mead, fpirits, or flrong waters, coffee, tea, fherbet, and chocolate, were fettled on the King during his life. Then it was that Coffee, Tea, and Chocolate, were firfl mentioned in the flatute book. Noorthouck, in his Hiflory of.. London, remarks, that King Charles II. iffued a’ proclamation for fhutting up the coffee- houfes, &c. about a month after he had dined with the Corporation of London, at Guildhall, on their Lord-Mayor’s day, 061. 29, 1675. At this feafl the King af- forded
( 23 )
So early as 1678, Cornelius Bontekoe, a Dutch phyfician, publifhed a treatife, in his own language, on Tea, Coffee, and Chocolate r. In this he fhews himfelf a very zealous advocate for riea, and denies the poffibility of its injuring the ftomach, although taken to the greateft excefs, as far as one or two hun- dred cups in a day. To what motive we are to impute the par- tiality of Dr. Bontekoe, is uncertain at this period ; but as he was firft phyfician to the Elector of Brandenburgh, and proba- bly of confiderable eminence and character, his eulogium might
forded the Citizens abundant matter for animadverfion, in which they indulged themfelves fo much to his diffatisfaction, and that of his cabal miniflry, that a proclamation was iffued December 20, for fhutting up and fuppreffing all coffee-houfes ; “ becaufe, in fuch houfes, and by occafion of the meeting of difaffected perfons in them, divers falfe, malicious, and fcandalous reports were devifed and read abroad, to the defamation of his Majefly’s government, and to the difturbance of the quiet and peace of the realm.” The opinions of the judges were taken on this great point of flopping people’s tongues, when they fagely refolved, <c that retailing of Coffee and Tea might be an innocent trade ; but as it was ufed to nourifh fedition, fpread lies, and fcandalize great men, it might alfo be a common nuifance.” In fhort, on a petition of the merchants and retailers of Coffee and Tea, permiffion was granted to keep open the coffee-houfes until the 24th of June next, under an admonition, that the mailers of them fhould prevent all fcandalous papers, books, and libels, from being read in them ; and hinder every perfon from declaring, uttering, or divulging all manner of falfe or fcandalous reports againfl government or the miniflers thereof. Thus, by a refinement of policy, the fimple manufacturer of a difli of Coffee or Tea was conflituted licenfer of books, corrector of manners, and arbiter of the truth or falfehood of political intelligence over every company he en- tertained ! And here the matter ended. Chap. 15.
In May 1784 an acl wras faffed, called the Commutation Act, (( for repealing the feveral duties on Tea, and for granting to his Majefly other duties in lieu thereof ; and alfo feveral duties on inhabited houfes.”
1 The fecond edition was publifhed under the title of Van The, Cofly, en Cho- colate. Haag. 1685. 8 vo. The late Baron Van Swieten cenfures this phyfician for his remarkable bias in favour of this exotic. Comment. Vol. V. p. 587. Efl modus in rebus, may be as aptly applied to Dr. Bontekoe as to Dr. Duncan.
tend
tend greatly to promote its ufe : however, we find its importa- tion and confumption were daily augmented ; and, before the conclufion of the laft century, it became generally known among the common people in England.
It is foreign to my fubje6t, or it would perhaps afford to a fpeculative mind no inconfiderable fatisfaclion, to trace the confumption from its firft entrance at the Cuftom-houfe to the prefent amazing imports. At this time upwards of twenty-three millions of pounds are annually allowed for home confumption ; and the Eaft India Company have generally in their warehoufes a fupply at leafl for one year.
The following account of the importation of Tea, from 1776 to 1795, as related by Sir George Staunton (Vol. II. p. 634), may be fatisfa&ory to the Reader ;
Jn Account of the Quantities of Teas exported from China , in Engli/h and Foreign Ships , in each Tear from
1776 to 1795, diftinguijhing each Tear .
( 24 )
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( 2S )
It is probable that the Dutch, as they traded conhderably to Japan about the time Tea was introduced into Europe, firft brought this article from thence. But now China is the general mart, and the province Fokien, or Fo-chen % the principal country, that fupplies both the Empire and Europe with this commodity.
1 In this province, this Ihrub is called Thee, or Te ; and as the Europeans firft landed here, that dialed! has been preferved. Le Compte’s Journey through the Empire of China, p. 227. Du Halde’s Hiftory of China, Vol. IV. p. 21.
E
SECTION
( a6 )
SECTION V.
SOIL AND CULTURE.
To the ingenious Kaempfer we are principally indebted for any accurate information refpe&ing the culture of the Tea Tree ; and, as his account was compofed during his residence at Japan, greater credit is certainly due to it. We fhall give what he fays upon this fubje6t, and then fiate the accounts we have been able to colledt of the Chinefe method.
Kaempfer tells us, that no particular gardens or fields are allotted for this plant, but that it is cultivated round the borders of rice and corn fields, without any regard to the foil. Any number of the feeds, as they are contained in their feed veflels, not ufually lefs than fix, or exceeding twelve or fifteen, are promifcuoufly put into one hole, made four or five inches deep in the ground, at certain diftances from each other. The feeds contain a large proportion of oil, which is foon liable to turn rancid ; hence fcarce a fifth part of them germinate, and this makes it neceffary to plant fo many together.
The feeds vegetate without any other care ; but the more induftrious annually remove the weeds, and manure the land. The leaves which fucceed. are not fit to be plucked before the
third
I
111— III i i
( 27 )
third year s growth, at which period they are plentiful, and in their prime.
In about feven years the fhrub rifes to a man’s height ; but as it then bears few leaves, and grows flowly, it is cut down to the hem, which occafions fuch an exuberance of frefh ihoots and leaves the fucceeding fummec, as abundantly compenfates the owners for their former lofs and trouble. Some defer cutting them till they are of ten years growth.
So far as can be gathered from authors and travellers of credit, this fhrub is cultivated and prepared in China, in a fimilar manner to what is pradtifed in Japan ; but as the Chinefe export confiderable quantities of Tea, they plant whole fields with it, to fupply foreign markets, as well as for home con- fumption.
The Tea-tree delights particularly in vallies ; or on the de- clivities of hills, and upon the banks of rivers, where it enjoys a fouthern expofure to the fun ; though it endures confiderable variations of heat and cold, as it flourifhes in the northern clime of Pekin, as well as about Canton \ the former of
1 The beft Tea grows in a mild temperate climate ; the country about Nankin producing better Tea than either Pekin or Canton, between which places it is fituated. It has been afferted, that no Tea-plants have yet died in England through excefs of cold ; but the contrary, I know, has happened. The plant in the Princefs Dowager’s garden at Kew flourifhed under glafs windows, with the natural heat of the fun, as now do thofe at Mile-end, in the pofTeflion of the intelligent Botanift J. Gordon. The Tea-plant belonging to Dr. Fothergill thrives in his garden at Upton, expofed to the open air, and the plant introduced into the Botanic garden at Chelfea had one leaf which meafured five inches and a quarter in length.
E 2
which
( 28 )
which is in the fame latitude with Rome ; and from meteo- rological obfervations it appears, that the degree of cold about Pekin is as fevere in winter, as in fome of the northern parts, of Europe x.
1 Du Halde and other authors have obferved, that the degree of cold in fome. parts of China is very fevere in winter. In the inland parts of North America, and;' on extenlive continents, the degrees of heat and cold are found to be much more- violent than in iflands or places bordering on the fea in the fame latitude, as the. air that blows over the fea is liable to lefs variation in tliefe refpedls, than that which blows over large tradls of land.
SECTION
SECTION
VL
GATHERING THE LEAVES.
At the proper feafons for gathering the Tea leaves, la- bourers are hired, who are very quick in plucking them, being accufiomed to follow this employment as a means of their live- lihood. They do not pluck them by handfuls, but carefully one by one ; and, tedious as this may appear, each perfon is able to collect from four to ten or fifteen Dounds in one dav.
x J
The different periods in which the leaves are ufually gathered, arc particularly deferibed by Kaempfer \
I. The firft commences at the middle of the Iaft moon, im- mediately preceding the vernal equinox, which is the firft month of the Japanefe year, and fails about the latter end of our February, or beginning of March. The leaves collected at this time are called Ficki Tsjaa, or powdered Tea, bccaufe they are pulverifcd and tipped in hot water (Sect. IX. i). Thefe tender young leaves are but a few days old when they are plucked and, becaufe of their fcarcity and price, are difpofed of to princes and rich people only ; and hence this kind is called Imperial Tea.
1 Amcenitat. Exotic, p. 618, et feq. Iliftory of Japan. Appendix to VoT. II. p. 6, et feq.
A fimilar
A fimilar fort Is alfo called Udfi Tsjaa, and Tacke Sacki Tsjaa, from the particular places where it grows. The peculiar care and nicety obferved in gathering the Tea leaves in thefe places deferve to be noticed here, and we fhall therefore give fome account of one of them.
Udfi is a fmall Japanefe town, bordering on the fea, and not far diftant from the city of Miaco. In the didridfc of this little town, is a pleafant mountain of the fame name, which is thought to poffefs the mod: favourable foil and climate for the culture of Tea, on which account it is inclofed with hedges, and likewife furrounded with a broad ditch for farther fecurity. The trees are planted upon this mountain in fuch a manner as to form regular rows, with intervening walks. Perfons are ap- pointed to fuperintend the place, and preferve the leaves from injury or dirt. The labourers who are to gather them, for fome weeks before they begin, abftain from every kind of grofs food, or whatever might endanger communicating any ill flavour to the leaves; they pluck them alfo with the fame delicacy, having on a thin pair of gloves T. This fort of imperial or bloom Tea * is afterwards prepared, and then efcorted by the chief furveyor of the works of this mountain, with a flrong guard, and a numerous retinue, to the emperor’s court, for the ufe of the Imperial family.
1 The fame cautions are not ufed previous to collecting other forts of Tea.
2 This cannot be the fort to which alfo the Dutch give that name, as it is fold upon the fpot to the princes of the country, for much more than the common bloom Tea is fold for in Europe. Kaempfer, Amoenit. Exotic, p. 617. Hiftory of Japan, Appendix, p. 9. Neumann’s Chemiftry by Lewis, p. 373.
II. The
( 31 )
II. The fecond gathering is made in the fecond Japanefe month, about the latter end of March, or beginning of April. Some of the leaves at this period are come to perfedlion, others not arrived at their full growth ; both however are promifcuoufly gathered, and are afterwards forted into different claffes, ac- cording to their age, fize, and quality ; the youngefl particu- larly are carefully feparated, and are often fold for the firfl ga- thering or Imperial Tea. The tea colledled at this time is called Tootsjaa, or Chinefe Tea, becaufe it is infufed, and drank after the Chinefe manner (Sect. IX. i.) It is divided by the Tea-dealers and merchants into four kinds, diflinguifhed by as many names.
III. The third and lafl gathering is made in the third Ja- panefe month, which falls about our June, when the leaves are very plentiful and full grown. This kind of Tea, called Ban Tsjaa, is the coarfefl, and is chiefly drank by the lower clafs of people (Sect. IX. hi,).
Some confine themfelves to two gatherings in the year, their firfl and fecond anfwering the preceding fecond and third. Others have only one general gathering1, which they make alfo at the fame time with the preceding third or lafl gather- ing : however, the leaves collected at each time, are refpec- tively feparated into different fortments.
The Chmefe collect the Tea at certain feafons % but whether’ the fame as in Japan, we are not fo well informed, mofl pro-
1 In this cafe the under leaves, which are liarth and lets fucculent, are probably, left upon the trees. See Eckeberg’s Chinefe Hufbandry in Ofbeck s Voyage, Vol. II.. p. 303.
1 Du Ilalde’s Hiftory of China, Vol. IV. p. 2.1.
( 3a )
bably, however, the Tea harveft is nearly at the fame periods, as the natives have frequent intercourfe, and their commercial concerns with each other are very extenlive r.
1 DuHalde, Vol. II. p. 300. Kaempfer obferves, in hisHiftory of Japan, that the trade between thefe nations has continued from remote!! antiquity; formerly the Chinefe had a much more general intercourfe with the Japanefe than they have at prefent ; the affinity in the religion, cuftoms, books, learned languages, arts and fciences of the Chinefe with the latter, procured them a free toleration in Japan* Hiftory of Japan, Vol. I. p. 374.
SECTION
( 33 )
SECTION VII.
METHOD OF CURING OR PREPARING TEA
IN JAPAN.
Public buildings, or drying houfes, are erected for curing Tea, and fo regulated, that every perfon, who either has not fuitable conveniences, or wants the requifite fkill, may bring his leaves at any time to be dried. Thefe buildings contain from five to ten or twenty fmall furnaces, about three feet high, each having at the top a large flat iron pan % either high, fquare, or round, bent up a little on that fide which is over the mouth of the furnace, which at once fecures the operator from the heat of the furnace, and prevents the leaves from falling off.
There is alfo a long low table covered with matts, on which the leaves are laid, and rolled by workmen, who fit round it. The iron pan being heated to a .certain degree by a little fire made in the furnace underneath, a few pounds of the frefh-ga- thered leaves are put upon the pan ; the frefh and juicy leaves crack when they touch the pan, and it is the bufinefs of the
1 Some writers mention copper pans, and fuppofe that the green efflorefcence which appears on copper may increafe the verdure of green Tea ; hut, from expe- riments that I made, there does not appear any foundation for this fuppohtion. See Sect. VIII.
F
operator
34
(
)
operator to fhift them as quick as poffible with his bare hands, till they grow too hot to be eafily e'ndured. At this inflant he takes off the leaves, with a kind of fliovel refembling a fan, and pours them on the matts to the rollers, who, taking fmall quantities at a time, roll them in the palms of their hands in one direction, while others are fanning them, that they may cool the more fpeedily, and retain their curl the longer1.
This procefs is' repeated two or three times, or oftener, be- fore the Tea is put in the lforcs, in order that all the moifture of the leaves may be thoroughly diffipated, and their curl more completely preferred. On every repetition the pan is lefs heated, and the operation performed more flowly and cau- * tioufly 4. The Tea is then feparated into the different kinds, and depofited in the ffore for domeftic ufe or exportation.
As the leaves of the Field Tea (Sect. VI. and IX. 1 1.), are ufually reduced into a powder before they are drank, they fhould be roafted to a greater degree of drynefs. As fome of thefe are gathered when very young, tender, and fmall, they are firft immerfed in hot water, taken out immediately, and dried without being rolled at all.
Country people cure their leaves in earthen kettles3, which anfwer every neceffary purpofe at lefs trouble and expence, whereby they are enabled to fell them cheaper.
1 Sir G. Staunton, EmbafTy to. China, obferves that the Tea leaves are each rolled feparately between the fingers of a female, Vol. II. p. 465.
s This fhould be carefully attended to, in curing the fine green Teas, to preferve their verdure and perifhable flavour. See Sect. VIII. ad finem.
3 This is alfo done in China. See Eckeberg’s Chinefe Hufbandry in Ofbeck’s Voyage, Vol, II. p.303.
To
/
■ ( 35-)
To complete the preparation, after the Tea has been kept for fome months, it muft be taken out of the veffels, in which it had been contained, and dried again over a very gentle fire, that it may be deprived of any humidity which remained, or might fince have been contracted.
The common Tea is kept in earthern pots with narrow mouths ; but the beft fort of Tea ufed by the Emperor and nobility is put ifi porcellane or China veffels. The Bantsjaa, or coarfeft Tea, is kept by the country people in ftraw bafkets, made in the fhape of bafrels, which they place under the roofs of their houfes, near the hole that lets out the fmoke, and imagine that this fituation does not injure the Tea.
This is the relation we have from Kaempfer of the method in which the Japanefe collected and cured their Tea. In the accounts of China, authors have in general treated very flightly of the cultivation and preparation of Tea. Le Compte1 2 indeed obferves, that to have good Tea, the leaves fhoukl be gathered while they are fmall, tender, and juicy. They begin com- monly to gather them in the months of March and April, ac- cording as the feafon is forward ; they afterwards expofe them to the fleam of boiling water to foften them ; and, as foon as they are penetrated by it, they draw them over copper plates';
1 Journey through the Empire of China.
2 Upon this fubjedt, fee Sect. VII. and VIII. It may be doubted alfo whether die conclulion of Le Compte’s relation is not erroneous, as it is improbable that any leaves fhould of themfelves take fo perfect a curl as that in which Tea is brought into Europe. No materials are ufed but iron and earthen for drying Tea, as obferved
in note *, p. 33.
F 2
kept
x «
( 36 )
kept on the fire, which dries them by degrees, till they grow brown, and roll up of themfelves in that manner we fee them.
However, it is certain, from the Chinefe drawings, which exhibit a faithful picture, though rudely executed, of the whole procefs from beginning to end, that the Tea tree grows for the moll part in hilly countries, on their rocky fummits, and fieep declivities ; and it would feem by the pains the Chinefe are at, in making paths, and fixing a kind of fcaf- folds, to affifl them, that thefe places afford the fneft Tea. It appears from thefe drawings, that the trees in general are not much taller than man's height : The gatherers of the
leaves are never reprefented but on the ground ; they make
ufe of hooked fticks indeed, but thefe feem rather intended
%
to draw the branches towards them, when they hang over brooks, rivers, or from places difficult of accefs, than to bend down the tops or upper branches of the trees on plain
They pick the leaves as foon as gathered into different forts, and cure them nearly in the manner defcribed to be pradtifed by the japanefe. They build a range of ffoves, like thofe in a chemiffs laboratory, or great kitchen, where the men work, and curl the leaves in the pans themfelves. It feems alfo that they repeat the drying. They dry it likewife, after having fpread it abroad in fhallow bafkets, in the fun ; and, by the means of fieves, feparate the larger from the fmaller leaves, and thefe again from the duff.
The Chinefe put the finer kinds of Tea into conic veffels, like fugar loaves, made of tutenaque, tin, or lead, covered
with
( 37 )
with neat matting of bamboo ; or in fquare wooden boxes lined with thin lead, dry leaves and paper, in which manner it is ex- ported to foreign countries. The common Tea is put into bafkets, out of which it is emptied, and packed up in boxes or chefts as foon as it is fold to the Europeans \
One thing fhould be mentioned to their credit ; when their harvefl of Tea is finifhed, each family fails not to teftify, by fome religious rite, their gratitude to the Giver.
1 There are feveral difgufting circumftances attending the preparation of Tea. Ofbeck fays, the Chinefe fervants tread the Tea into the chefts with their naked feet. Voyage to China, Vol. I. p. 252. Sir George Staunton makes a ftmilar re- mark, Vol. II. p. 466.
i
SECTION
/
0
( 38 )
SECTION VIII.
VARIETIES OF TEA.
It has been already obferved (Sect. VI.) that many different fortments of Tea are made during the times of col- lecting the leaves; and thefe are multiplied according to the goodnefs of their preparation, by which the varieties of Tea may be conliderably augmented \ The diftin&ions with us are much more limited, being generally confined to three principal kinds of green, and five of bohea.
L Thofe of the former are,
i. Bing, imperial, or bloom Tea, with a large loofe leaf, of a light green colour, and faint delicate fmell.
ii. Hy-tiann, hi-kiong, or hayffuen, known to us by the name of Hyfon Tea, fo called after an Eaft-India merchant of that name, who firft imported it into Europe. The leaves are clofely curled and fmall, of a green colour, verging towards blue 2.
1 Du Halde's Hiftor-y of China, Vol. IV. p. 21/ Ofbeck’s Voyage to China, Vol. I p. 246, et feq.
1 The Chinefe have another kind of Hyfon Tea, which they call Hyfon-utchin, with narrow lhort leaves. Another fort of green Tea they name Go-be, the leaves T>f which are narrow and long.
hi. Singlo,
—
m
( 39 )
iii. Singlo, or fonglo, which name it receives, Jike many other Teas, from the place where it is cultivated.
II. The bohea Teas.
i. Soochuen, or futchong, by the Chinefe called faatyang, and fa6I-chaon, or fu-tyann, is a fuperior kind of long-fou Tea. It imparts a yellowifh green colour, by infufion h
ii. Camho, or foumlo, called after the name of the place where it is gathered ; a fragrant Tea with a violet fmell. Its infufion is pale.
in. Cong-fou, Congo, or bong-fo. This has a larger leaf than the following, and the infufion is a little deeper coloured. It refembles the common bohea in the colour of the leaf2.
iv. Pekao, pecko, or pekoe, by the Chinefe called back-ho, or pack-ho. It is known by having the appearance of fmall white flowers intermixed with it.
v. Common bohea, called moji by the Chinefe, conlifts of leaves of one colour -.
1 Padre futchong has a finer tafte and fmell than the common futchong. The leaves are large and yellowifh, not rolled up, but expanded, and packed up in papers of half a pound each. It is generally conveyed by caravans into Ruffia. Without much care, it will be injured at fea. This Tea is rarely to be met with in England.
2 There is a fort of Tea called lin-kifam, with narrow rough leaves. It is feldom ufed alone, but mixed with other kinds. By adding it to congo, the Chinefe fometimes make a kind of pekoe Tea. Ofbeck’s Voyage to China, Vol. I. p. 249.
3 The beft bohea Tea is named by the Chinefe tao-kyonn. An inferior kind is called An-kai, from a place of that name. In the diftri6t of Ilonam near Canton, the Tea is very coarfe, the leaves yellow or brownifh, and the tafte the leaft agree- able of any. By the Chinefe it is named Honam te, or Kuli te.
III. There:
%
( 40 ) .
III. There has alfo been imported a fort of Tea, in balls, of a
different form from any of the preceding, made up into
cakes or balls of different fizes, by the Chinefe called Poncul- , tcha.
i. The largeft kind of this cake Tea, that I have feen, weighs about two ounces ; the infufion and tafe.refemble thofe of good bohea Tea. -
ii. Another fort, which is a kind of green Tea, is called tio te : it is rolled up in a round fhape, about the lize of peas, and fometimes as large as a nutmeg.
hi. The fmallefl kind done in this form is called gun-powder Tea.
iv. Sometimes the fucculent Tea leaves are twifted into cords like packthread, about an inch and a half or two inches long ; and ufually three of thefe are tied together at the ends by different-coloured filk threads. Thefe refemble little bavins, one of which might fuff ce for tea for one perfon. I have ieen them both of green and bohea Tea.
The Chinefe likewife prepare an extract from Tea, which they exhibit as a medicine diffolved in a large quantity of water, and afcrihe to it many powerful effects in fevers and other diforders, when they wifi to procure a plentiful fweat. This extract is fometimes formed into fmall cakes, not much broader than a fixpence, fometimes into rolls of a eonfiderable f ze.
That there is only one fpecies of Tea tree, has already been mentioned (Sect. I.) from which all the varieties ol Tea are
procured.
Bo he a Tea
( 41 )
procured. Kaempfer, who is of this opinion, attributes the difference of Teas to the foil and culture of the plant, age of the leaves when gathered, and method of curing them \ Thefe circumftances will feverally have more or lefs influence ; though whether they account for all the varieties obfervable in Tea may be doubted. The bohea Tea trees, now introduced into many botanic gardens near London, exhibit very obvious varieties. The leaves are of a deeper green colour, and not fo deeply ferrated ; the flalk is ufually of a darker colour, and the whole flirub appears lefs luxuriant tham-flhat reprefented in A 2 the annexed plate of the bohea Tea ; but the botanical cha- racters are the fame.
I infufed all the forts of green and bohea Teas I could pro- cure, and expanded the different leaves on paper, to compare their refpeCtive flze and texture, intending thereby to difeover their age. 1 found the leaves of green Tea as large as thofe of bohea, and nearly as fibrous ; which would lead one to fufpeCt, that the difference does not fo much depend upon the age, as upon the other circumftances.
We know that in Europe the foil, culture, and expofure, have great influence on all kinds of vegetables : but the fame fpecies of plants differ in the fame province, and even in the fame diftriCl ; and in Japan, and particularly along the continent of China, it muft be much more confiderable, where the air is in fome parts very cold, in others moderate, or warm almoft to an extreme. I am perfuaded that the method of preparation
* This renders what has been obferved at the concluhon of Sect. I. more probable. . • . - • ‘
G muft
( - 42 )
muft alfo have no little influence. I have dried the leaves of fome European plants in the manner defcribed (Sect. VI.) which fo much refembled the foreign Tea, that the infufion made from them has been feen and drunk without fufpicion. In thefe preparations which I made, fome of the leaves re- tained a perfedt curl, and a fine verdure like the befl green Tea ; and others cured at the fame time were more like the bohea \
I would not, however, lay too much ftrefs upon the re ful t of a few7 trials, nor endeavour to preclude further enquiries about a fubjeCt which at fome future period may prove of more immediate concern to this nation.
We might flill try to difcover whether other arts, than are yet known here, are not ufed with Tea before its exportation from China, to produce the difference of colour % and flavour1 * 3, peculiar to different forts. An intelligent friend of mine informs me, that in a fet of Chinefe drawings, in his pofleflion, repre- fenting the whole procefs of manufacturing Tea, there are in one flieet the figures of feveral perfons apparently feparating the
1 A certain moderate degree of heat preferved the verdure and flavour better than a hafty exficcation. In the firfi: cafe, it is neceflary to repeat the roafting oftener.
1 Infufions of fine bohea Teas do not differ a great deal in colour from thofe of green. To fpirit they equally impart a fine deep green colour.
3 I am informed by intelligent perfons, who have refided fome time at Canton, that the Tea about that city affords very little fmell whiift growing. The fame is obferved of the Tea plants in England ; and alfo of the dried fpecimens from China. We are not hence to conclude, that art alone conveys to Teas when cured the Imell peculiar to each kind ; for our vegetables, grafles for inftance, have little or no. fmell till dried, and made into hay..
different
■* J
.
-
. .
\ '
'
|
• . |
|
* ‘
I
.
' ( 43 )
/
different kinds of Tea, and drying it in the lun, with feveral bafkets flanding near them filled with a very white fubflancc, and in confiderable quantity. To what ufe this may be applied is uncertain, as well as what the fubflance is ; yet there is no • doubt, he thinks, that it is ufed in the manufacturing of Tea, as the Chinefe feldom bring any- thing into their pieces but fuch as relate in fome refpect to the bufinefs before them.
We are better acquainted with a vegetable fubflance which has been employed by the Afiatics in giving a flavour to Tea. This is the Olea Fragrans, whofe flowers are frequently to be met with in Teas exported from China: and as the plant is now not unfrequent in the gardens near the metropolis, I am enabled to give an engraving of the plant and its botanical hiftory \
Olea Fragrans. — Sweet-fcented Olive.
Clafs and Order.
Diandria Monogynia.
Generic Character*
Cor. 4. fida : laciniis fubova- Corot. 4. cleft : fegments
tis. Drupa monofperma. fomewhat ovate. Drupe , one-
feeded.
See Thunberg’s Flora Japonic a, from which work the Botanic Hiftory of the Olea Fragrans is chiefly taken.
G 2
Specific
Specific Character and Defeription from Thunberg.
OtEA fragrans foliis Ianceo- latis ferratis, pedunculis latera- libus aggregatisunifloris. Thunb^ FI. Japon . p. i 8, t. a.
Caulis , arboreus vattus.
Rami et ramuli trichotomi, obfolete tetragoni, glabri.
Folia decuflata, petiolata ob- longa, acuta, ferrata, margini fubreflexo, parallelo-nervofa, re- ticulata, glabra, fupra faturate viridia, fubtus pallidiora, paten- tia, in ramulis frequentia, di- gitalia.
Peiioli femiteretes, fulcati, glabri, femiunguiculares.
Flores in ramulis umbellato- aggregnti, circiter 6 vel 8, pe- duiicuiati.
Olive fweet - feented with lanceolate ferrated leaves, pe- duncles lateral, cluttered, one- flowered.
Stem, a vaft tree.
Branches both large and fmall trichotomous, faintly four-cor- nered and fmooth.
Leaves growing crofs-wife on leaf-Aalks, oblong, acute, fer- rated, edge fomewhat turned back, ribs parallel, reticulated, fmooth above, of a deep green colour, paler beneath, fpread- ing on the fmall branches, nu- merous, about the length of the finger..
Leaf-Jlalks , flat on one tide, round on the other, grooved, fmooth, half the length of the finger nail.
Flower on the fmall branches in cluttered umbels, about 6 or 8 together, ttanding on pe- duncles.
Pedunculi
Pedunculi filiformes, uniflori, glabri, albidi, unguiculares.
Perianthium, i-Phyllum, mi- nimum, obfolete 4-dentatum, albidum, glabrum.
Corolla , i-petala, rotata, fla- vo-alba; Tubus fubnullus; Lim- bus patens, quadrifidus : laci- niae ovatae, obtufae, concavae, cradiufculae.
Pilamenta duo, ori tubi in- ferta, alba, breviflima..
Antber# ovatae, grandiufculae, didymae, flavefcentes.
Germen fuperum, oblongum, glabrum.
Stylus filiform is.
Stigmata fimplicia, acutai
Flower -Jlalks filiform, one- flowered, fmooth, whitifh, a finger nail in length.
Perianthium , one-leaved, ve- ry minute, faintly four-toothed* whitifh and fmooth.
Corolla of one petal, wheel- fhaped, of a yellowifh-white colour ; 7* ube fcarce any ; Limb fpreading, quadrifid, fegments ovate, obtufe, concave, thick- ifh.
Filaments two, inferted into the mouth of the tube, white, very lliort.
Anther# ovate, fomewhat large, double, yellowifh.
Germen above, oblong, and fmooth.
Style filiform.
^//o/^/^j.fimpleand pointed.
Sir George Staunton, in his Embafiy to China, Yol. If. p. 467, defcribes another Plant, whofe flowers are ufed for the purpofe of fcenting Tea. The flower refembles the dog-rofe, and the leaves thofe of Tea ; hence the Chinefe call it Cha- whaw, or Flower of Tea. A Plate of this Plant is annexed, with the following defcription, which this very accurate and
learned
"r ,
( 46 )
learned traveller has obligingly permitted me to introduce here.
“ A Plant very like the Tea douridied at this time on the tides and the very tops of mountains, where the foil confided of little more than fragments of done crumbled into a fort of coarfe earth by the joint action of the fun and rain. The Chinefe call this plant Cha-whaw', or Flower of Tea, on ac- count of the rcfemblance of one to the other ; and becaufe its petals, as well as the entire dowers of the Arabian jedamine, are fometimes mixed among the Teas, in order to increafe their fragrance.
“ This plant, the Cha-whaw, is the Camellia Sefanqua of the botanids, and yields a nut, from whence is expreded an efcu- lent oil equal to the bed which comes from Florence. It is cultivated on this account in vad abundance ; and is particu- larly valuable, from the facility of its culture, in dtuations dt for little elfe.” It is delineated on the oppodte page.
As green Tea is by fome fufpedted to have been cured on copper, they have attributed the verdure to be derived from that metal (Sect. VII.) ; but, if there were any founda- tion for this fuppodtion, the volatile alkali, mixed with an infudon of fuch Tea, would detect the lead portion of copper, by turning the infudon blue
1 The hundredth part of a grain of copper, diffolved in a pint of liquor, ftrikes a fenfible blue with volatile alkalies. Neumann’s Chemiftry, by Lewis, p. 6z. The fineft imperial and bloom Teas fhewed no fign of the prefence of this metal by experiment.
Others
c
Ja/z/sr//// jZ Sf'ja/fS/
( 47 )
Others have, with lefs propriety, attributed the verdure to green copperas 1 ; but this ingredient, which is only fait of iron, would immediately turn the leaves black, and the infufion made from the Tea would be of a deep purple colour \
Is it not more probable, that fome green dye, prepared from vegetable fubftances, is ufed for the colouring ?
1 See Short on Tea, p. 1 6. Boerhaave attributed the verdure of green Tea to this fubflance.
2 “ It is confidently faid in the country, that no plates of copper are ever em- ployed for that purpofe. Indeed, fcarcely any utenfil ufed in, China is of that metal, the chief application of which is for coin. The earthen or iron plates are placed over a charcoal fire, which draws all remaining moifture from the leaves, rendering them dry and crifp.” Sir G. Staunton’s Embaffy, Vol. II. p. 465.
SECTION
/
SECTION IX.
DRINKING OF TEA.
Ne ither the Chinefe, nor natives of Japan, ever ufe Tea before it has been kept at leaf!; a year ; becaufe when frefh it is faid t:o prove narcotic, and to diforder the fenfes \ The former pour hot water on the Tea, and draw off the infufion in the fame manner as is now pra6tifed in Europe ; but tjiey drink it fimply without the addition of fugar or milk 2. The Japanefe reduce the Tea into a fine powder, by grinding the leaves in a hand-mill ; they then mix them with hot water into a thin pulp, in which form it is lipped 3, particularly by the nobility and rich people. It is made and ferved up to com- pany in the following manner : the Tea-table furniture, with the powdered Tea inclofed in a box, are fet before the com- pany, and the cups are then filled with hot water, and as much of the powder as might lie on the point of a moderate -fized knife is taken out of the box, put into each cup, and then fiirred and mixed together with a curious denticulated infiru-
' Kaempfer, Amoenit. Exot. p. 625. Hiftory of Japan, Vol. II. App. p. 10. 16.
> Ofbeck’s Voyage to China, Vol. I. p. 299.
3 This is called koitsjaa, that is, thick Tea, to diltinguifh it from that made by infufion.
ment
( 49 ) ■
meat till the liquor foams, in which hate it is prefented to the company, and lipped while warm \ From what Du Halde relates, this method is not peculiar to the Japanefe, but is alfo ufed in fome provinces of China \
The common people, who have a coarfer Tea (Sect. VI. in.) boil it for fome time in water, and make ufe of the liquor for common drink. Early in the morning the kettle, filled with water, is regularly hung over the fire for this purpofe, and the Tea is either put into the kettle inclofed in a bag, or, by means of a bafket of a proper fize, pre fifed to the bottom of the veffel, that there may not be any hindrance in drawing off the water. The Bantsjaa Tea (Sect. VI. in.) only is ufed in this manner, whole virtues, being more fixed, would not be fo fully ex- tracted by infufion.
And indeed Tea is the common beverage of all the labouring people in China : one fcarcely ever fees them reprefented at work of any kind, but the Tea pot and Tea cup appear as their accompaniments. Reapers, threfhers, and all who work out of doors, as well as within, have thefe attendants 3.
To make Tea, and to ferve it in a genteel and graceful man- ner, is an accomplifihment, in which people of both fexes in Japan are infiructed by mailers, in the fame manner as Europeans are in dancing, and other branches of polite education.
1 An inferior kind of Tea is infufed, and drank in the Chinefe manner. Sect. VI. n. and Sect. IX. i.
2 Hiftory of China, Vol. IV. p. 22.
3 In public roads, and in all places of much refort in Japan, and even in the midft of fields and frequented woods. Tea booths are eredled ; as mod: travellers drink fcarcely any thing elfe upon the road. Kaempfer's Hiftory of Japan, by Scheuchzer, Fol. Vol. II. p. 428.
II
SECTION
( 5° )
SECTION X.
SUCCEDANEA.
* \
Curiosity and intereft would mutually induce the Euro- peans to make the moft diligent enquiries in order to difcover the real Tea fhrub, or a fubftitute in fome other vegetable moft refembling it, Simon Paulli, a celebrated phylician and botanift at Copenhagen, was the firft who pretended to have difcovered the real Tea plant in Europe. By opening fome Tea leaves, he found them fo much like thofe of the Dutch myrtle1, (Flor. Su. 907.) that he obftinately maintained they were productions of the fame fpecies of Tea ; though he was afterwards refuted by feveral botanihs in Europe, and by the fpecimens fent to him, and to Dr. Mentzel of Berlin, from the Eaft-Indies, by Dr. Clcyer 2.
1 Myrica Gale. Goule, Sweet Willow, or Dutch Myrtle. Iiudfon’s FI. Angl. p. 368. Linn. Syftem. Natur. Vol. III. p. 651. A plant of peculiar fragrance, found in the North of England, Brabant, and other Northern countries. Simon de Molin- griis was the firft who oppofed this opinion of Simon Paulli, by fhewing the differ- ence betwixt this fpecies of myrtle and the oriental Tea. See alfo Wilh. Leyl. epift. apud Sim. Paulli comment. &c.
1 Figures of the fame were publifhed in the A<fta Haffnienfia, and German Ephemerides, Dec. 11. Ann. iv.
Father
( 5i •;
Father Labat next thought he had difcovered the real Tea- plant in Martinico % agreeing, he fays, in all refpedts with the China fort. He pretends alfo to have procured Tea feeds from the Eaft Indies, and to have raifed the plant in America ; but, from his own account, this fuppofed Tea appears to be only a fpecies of Lyfimachia, or what is called Weft-India Tea *.
Many other pretended difcoveries of the Oriental Tea-tree have been related ; all which have proved erroneous, when pro- perly enquired into. The genus of plant, called by Kaempfer Tfubakki 3, has the neared; refemblance to it. The leaves of feveral European herbs have been ufed at different times as fubflitutes for Tea, either from fome fimilarity in the fhape of the leaves, or in the tafte and flavour ; among thefe, two or three fpecies of
1 Nouveau Voyage aux lies d l’Amerique, Paris, 1721, i2mo. 6 vol.
2 This. Ihrub I have frequently met with in the Weft-Indies.
3 Two fpecimens of this plant are now in the phyfic garden at Upfal. About the year 1755, they were brought over from China by M. Lagerftrom, a director of the Swedifh Eaft-India Company, under the fuppofttion of being Tea-plants, till they appeared in bloffom, when they proved to be this fpecies of Tfubakki, called by Linnaeus, Camellia. Spec. Plant, p. 982. This celebrated Naturalift fays, “ That the leaves of his Camellia are fo like the true Tea, that they would deceive the moft fkilful botanift ; the only difference is, that they are a little broader. Amoenit. Academ. Vol. VII. p. 251. See alfo Ellis’s Directions for bringing over foreign Plants, p. 28. A Camellia was brought in 1771 from China in good health; the leaves of this Ihrub end in a double obtufe point (obtufely emarginated) like thofe of the Tea tree, which makes them ftill more liable to be miftaken for thofe of the latter. Kaempfer obferves, that the leaves of a fpecies of Tfubakki are preferved, and mixed with Tea, to give it a fine flavour. Amoenit. Exotic, p. 858. It is now a common plant in the green-houfes about London.
H 2 Veronica
•• vr.
( 52 )
Veronica are particularly recommended % betides the leaves of fage % myrtle 3, betony 4, floe 5, agrimony, wild rofe 6, and many others 7. Whether any of thefe are really more falutary
, or
1 Mich. Frid. Lochner, de novis These et Coffeae Succedaneis. Hall. 1717. 4to. Veronica officinalis. Flor. Suec. p. 12. Veronica Chamaedr. FI. Suec. p. 18. Pechlin Theophilus bibaculus, Franckfort. 1684. Francus, de Veronica vel‘ Theezantem. Coburg. 1690. iamo. 1700. i2mo. Paris, fub titulo, le The de l’Europe. 1704 and 1707, iimo. Frid. Hoffman de infuli Veronicae efficacia praeferendadrerbae These, Flail, an. 1694. 4to.
2 Fr. Afforty 8c Jof. de Tournefort ergo potus ex Salvia falubris, 1695. Wedel, de Salvia, 4to. 1707. Jena. Paulini nobilis falvia Ang. Vindel. an. 1 688. 8vo.
3 Simon Paulli de abufu These et Tabaci. Straffiurg, 1665. Lond. 1746.
4 Botanical writers celebrate this herb for its many virtues; hence arofe the Italian proverb, “ Vende la tonica , et compra la Betonica."
5 In the year 1776, an aCt was paffed for the more effectual prevention of the manufacturing of affi, elder, floe, and other leaves, in imitation of Tea ; and to prevent frauds in the revenue of Excife in refpeCt to Tea, 17 George III. chap. 29, being an amendment of the aCt 4 George II. intituled, “ An ACt to prevent Frauds in the Revenue of Excife with refpeCt to Starch, Coffee, Tea, and Chocolate. In the Appendix, from Sir George Staunton’s Embaffy to China, this is particularly de- tailed.
6 Jofeph Serer Lettera fopra la bevanda del Caffe Europaeo, Veron. An. 1730. Rofe leaves are. here fubftituted for thofe of Tea. Godofred. Thomalius Thea ex • Rolls in Cent hi. Nat. curiofor. n. 199. See alfo Cent. vij. obf. 15. by J. A. Fifcher.
7 See Neumann’s Chemiftry, by Lewis, p. 375. J. Adrian. Slevogt, De Thea Romana et Sileliaca, an. 1721. Aignan. le pretre Medecin, avec un Traite du Caffe, et du The de France. Paris, an. 1696. i2mo. This author, whofe name is probably corrupted, prefers balm leaves to thofe of the Aliatic Tea.
M. Fr. Lockner, de novis et exoticis Thee et Cafe fuccedaneis Noriberg. 1717. 4to. Et in Eph. Nat. Cur. Cent. vj.
J. Franc. Nic. Faber, de Thea Helvetica, Balil. 1715. 4to.
J. Georg. Siegelbeck, de These et Caffese fuccedaneis in Kanoldiana colled ione, an. 1722. Jan.
Zanichelli
( S3 ) , ' ,
or not, is undetermined ; and we now find, that from the palace to the cottage every other fubftitute has yielded to the genuine Afiatic Tea h
Zanichelli obzervazioni intorno all abufodella Coffea ed alia vertute di innuovo Te-Venegiano. Venez. 1755. 4to.
K. Collegii medici Rundgiorelfe om den mifbruk fom Thee, och Caffe drickande ar unders kaftot, famt anwifning pa Swenka orter, at Brucka i ftalle for Thee Stok- holm, 1746. 4to.
Conf. Murray, appar. Medlcam. Vol. IV. p. 232. & feq.
1 In fome parts of Europe, however, Tea is yet a ftranger. See Brydone’s Tour through Sicily and Malta, Let. 6.
SECTION
( 54 )
SECTION XI.
PRESERVING THE SEEDS FOR VEGETATION.
M any attempts to introduce the Tea-tree into Europe have proved unfuccefsful, owing to the bad hate of the feeds when firft procured, or to a want of judgement in preferving them long enough in a ftate capable of vegetation. If this complaint arife from the firft caufe, future precautions about fuch feeds will be in vain ; it is therefore neceffary to procure frefh, found, ripe feeds, white, plump, and moift internally.
Two methods of preferving the feeds have put us in pof- feffion of a few young plants of the true Tea-tree of China ; one is, by incloling the feeds in bees wax, after they have been well dried in the fun ; and the other, by putting them, in- cluded in their pods, or capfules, into very clofe cannifters made of tin and tutenague1. ; g
1 See Directions for bringing over feeds and plants from the Eaft-Indies, by J. Ellis, F. R. S. Sc c. in which particular directions are given, both to choofe the proper feeds, and to preferve them in the beft manner for vegetation. See alfo the Naturalift’s and traveller’s companion, containing inftructions for difcovering and preferving objects of natural hiftory, Sect. III. We may obferve here, that the beft method of bringing over the parts of flowers intire is to put them in bottles of fpirit of wine, good rum, firft runnings, or brandy. In the directions, See. above-mentioned the learned naturalift has not recommended this eafy method of preferving the parts of fructification ; but in a future edition, I am informed he purpofes to do it. Flowers of the Illicium Floridanum, or ftarry annifeed tree, publifhed in the laft .volume of Philofophical Tranfactions (LX.) were fent to him in this manner.
In
Boxes for conveying Plants Bv Sea.
27?e .Zr/stiA ty &/<• &c ,rAi7/'m</ /Ac zz/iczmcr cy \r<‘ c7t?r//i/ zt><>/s
of - y>Ac/r/r >n/?7v?t72i?<y/ 7 ////A az?ift Jb 7/uys Act/ 7iszf/i yzaz A'/Azctzt/ tznd /izrffrnl? <?*y-r £' ivo/j zz/r/A Az/As 07' pacA'A/wai? /A Accp ^ s/c.Zt/v.
( 55 )
But neither of thefe methods have fucceeded generally, notwithftanding the utmoft care, both in getting frefh feeds, and in fecuring them in the mod: effedtual manner. The bed; method is to fow the ripe feeds in good light earth, in boxes, at leaving Canton ; covering them with wire, to prevent rats and other fuch vermin coming to them. The boxes, plans of which are annexed, fhould not be expofed to too much air, nor to the fpray of the fea, if poffible. The earth diould not be buffered to grow dry and hard, but a little frefh or rain water may be fprinkled over it now and then; and, when the feedling plants appear, they diould be kept moid, and out of the burn- ing fun x. Mod of the plants now in England were procured by
V
In a paper by John Sneyd, Efq. inferted in the TranfaCtions of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Vol. XVI. p. 265, a method of preferving feeds is related, which appears to have been highly fuccefsful ; this is merely by packing up feeds in abforbent paper, and furrounding the fame by railins, or brown moift fugar ; which, by experiment, feems to afford that genial moifture requifite to preferve the feeds in a ftate fit for vegetation.
Thouin, in his directions to the unfortunate navigator Peroufe, recommends the feeds to be placed in alternate layers of earth or fand, in tin boxes, which muff be clofed up exactly, and placed in folid cafes, which fhould be covered with waxed cloth ; the boxes fhould be put in a part of the fhip the lead: accefiible to moifture, and the moft fheltered from extreme heat or cold.” Vol. I. p. 278.
1 The carrying of trees cannot be done, with any hope of fuccefs, except in ; boxes, wherein they may vegetate during the voyage. For this purpofe it is necelfary to have a box forty inches long by twenty broad, and as much in depth, with a dozen holes bored through the bottom, for the fuperabundant water to run off. Its upper part muft be compofed of a triangular frame, upon which lattice work of iron wire muft be fitted, with glazed frames and window fhutters, to keep up a free circulation of air, encreafe the warmth when neceffary, and keep out the cold.” Peroufe’s Voyage, Vol. I. p. 283.
tliefeLcr
( S 6 )
thefe means ; aiid though many of the feedlings will die, yet by this kind of management we may probably fucceed in bringing over the molt curious vegetable productions of China, of which they have an amazing treafure, both in refpect to ufe, fhew, and variety *. If young plants could be procured in China, they might be fent over in a growing hate in fome of thefe boxes.
The young Tea-plants in the gardens about London thrive very well in the green-houfes in winter, and fome bear the open air in fummer. The leaves of many of them are from one to three inches long, not without a fine deep verdure ; and the young fhoots are fucculent. It is therefore probable, that in a few years many layers may be procured from them, and the number of plants confiderably increafed thereby.
It may not be improper to obferve here, that many exotic vegetables, like human conflitutions, require a certain period before they become naturalized to a change of climate ; many plants, which on their firft introduction would not bear our winters without fhelter, now endure our hardest frofts ; the beautiful magnolia, among feveral others, is a proof of this
1 Another method has fucceeded with fome North American feeds, by putting 'them into a box, not made too clofe, upon alternate layers of mofs, in fuch a man- ner^ as to admit the feeds to vegetate, or fhoot their fmall tendrils into the mofs. In the palfage, the box may be hung up at the roof of the cabin ; and, when ar- rived here, the feeds fhould be put into pots of mold, with a little of the mofs alfo about them, on which they had lain. This method has procured us feeds in a Hate lit for vegetation, which had often mifcarried under the preceding precautions; and therefore might be tried at lead with Tea and other oriental feeds. In order to fucceed more certainly, fome of the Tea feeds, in whatever manner they may have been preferved, fhould be fown when the veflel arrives at St. Helena, and alio after palling the tropic of Cancer, near the latitude of 30 degrees North.
obfervation ;
— -
( 57 )
obfervation ; and we have already taken notice (Sect. V.), that the degree of cold at Pekin fometimes exceeds ours. We have hence reafon to expert, that the Tea-tree may in a few years be capable of bearing our climate, or at leaf!: that of our colonies ; at length thrive, as if indigenous to the foil ; and, were labour cheaper, become an article of export1, like the common potatoe, for which we are indebted to America, or Spain \ It is, however, better fuited for the climates of
the
1 The high price of labour in this country may prove the principal objection to this profpedh. In China provifions are very cheap. Ofbeck fays, that'a work- man who lives upon plucking of Tea-leaves, will fcarce be able to get more than one penny a day, which is fufficient to maintain him. Voyage to China, Vol. I. p. 298.
* The following extract from Gerard’s Herbal, p. 780. ed. 1636. though foreign to the fubjeft of this Effay, is fo curious, that it may not b& deemed im- proper to tranfcribe it. “ Potatoes grow in India, Barbarie, Spaine, and other hot regions, of which I planted diuers rootes (that I bought in the Exchange in London) in my garden, where they flourifhed untill winter, at which time they perifhed and rotted.” At this date, he adds, “ they were roafted in the allies; fome, when they be fo roafted, infufe them, and fop them in wine ; and others, to give them the greater grace in eating, do boile them with prunes, and fo eate them. And likewife others drefte them (being firft roafted) with oile, vinegar, and fait, every man according to his own tafte and liking.”
“ Thefe rootes (he obferves) may ferue as a ground or foundation w heron the cunning confedlioner, or fugar-baker, may worke and frame many comfortable delicate conferves, and reftorative fweete meates.”
Jn 1664 J. Fofter publilhed his i( England’s Ilappynefs increafed by a Plantation of Potatoes,” Jto.
“ Captain Hawkins is faid to have brought this root from Santa Fe, in New Spain, A. D. 1565. Sir Walter Rawleigh foon after planted it on his lands in Ireland ; but, on eating the apple, that it produced, which is naufeous and unwholefome, he had nearly configned the whole crop to deftru<ftion. Luckily the fpade difeovered the real potatoe, and the root became rapidly a favourite eatable. It continued, how- ever, for a long time to be thought rather a fpecies of dainty than of provifion ;
I nor.
{ 58 )
the Southern parts of Europe, and America; but hitherto it has not been cultivated in an extenflve manner, in either of thefe quarters of the world ; nor is it likely ever to be, whilft it can be procured from Afia at the prefent reduced price, it was introduced into Georgia about the year 1770. Hence the ingenious author of Ouabi (Mrs. Morton) in her recent poem of Beave-hill, in defcribing the products of this province, intro- duces the exotic of China :
44 Yet round thefe fhores prolific plenty twines,
44 Stores the thick held, and fwells the cluttering vines ;
44 A thoufand groves their glofly leaves unfold,
44 Where the rich orange rolls its ruddy gold,
44 China s green J)j)ub , divine Magnolia’s bloom,
44 With mingling odours fling their high perfume.”
It is indeed probable that the North American hummers, in the fame latitude with Pekin, would fuit this Tree better than ours ; for, in China and fome parts of North America, the heat in fummer is fuch, that vegetables make quicker and more early fhoots, whereby they have time to acquire fufflcient flrength and hrmnefs before the winter commences : but, in England, the tender fhoots are pufhed forth late, and, winter foon after fucceeding, they often perilb, in a degree of cold much lefs fevere than at Pekin, or in colder latitudes of North America.
nor, till the clofe of the r8th century, was it fuppofed capable of guarding the country where it was foitered, from the attacks of famine.” Andrews’s Hiltory, Voh I. p. 408. Comp. Mocquet’s Travels, p. 54.
Shakefpeare, very early alfo in this century, mentions this root in the Merry Wives of Windfor, one edition of which, in 4to. was printed in 1619. Vide Scene III. FalfiafF,
THE
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£=
THE
MEDIC A L HISTORY
O F
TEA,-
PART II.
SECTION I.
As the cuftom of drinking Tea is become general, every perfon may be considered as a judge of its effects, at lead; fo far as it concerns his own health ; but, as the conflitu- tions of mankind are various, the effects of this infufion muft be different alfo, which is the reafon that fo many opinions have prevailed upon the fubjedt.
Many, who have once conceived a prejudice againft it, faffer it to influence their judgement too far, and condemn the cuf- tom as univerfally pernicious. Others, who are no lefs biaffed
I % ■ on
on the other extreme, would make their own private experience a dandard for that of all, and afcribe the mod extenfive virtues to this infufion. This contrariety of opinion has been particu- larly maintained among phyficians 1 ; which will ever be the cafe, while mere fuppohtions are placed in the room of experiments and fadts impartially related.
Some phyficians, however, avoid both extremes ; who, without commending it, or decrying it univerfally, admit its ufc, while they are not infenfible of the injuries it may pro- duce. It requires no fmall fhare of fagacity to fix the limits of good and harm in the prefent cafe : multitudes of all ages, conditutions, and complexions, drink it freely, during a long life, without perceiving any ill effedts. Others, again, foon experience many inconveniences from drinking any condderable quantity of this infufion.
It is difficult to draw certain conclufions from experiments made on this herb. The parts which feem to produce thefe oppofite efredts are very fugitive. We become acquainted chiedy with the groder parts by analyfis. I made the following experiments with condderable care ; but, I own, they inform us not fudiciently wherein confids that grateful relaxing fedative property, which proves to the generality of mankind fo refrefh- ing ; nor from whence it is, that others feel from the pleating beverage fo many difagreeable effedts. Accurate obfervation would indrudt us in this difficult inveftigation, more than fimple experiments on the fubjedt itfclf.
1 Compare Joh. Ludov. Hannemane de potu calido in Mifcell. curiof. Simon Paulli de abufu Them et Tabaci. Tiffot on the difeafes of literary and fedentary perfons, & c. vHth Waldfmick, in Difput. yar. argum. &c.
EXPE-
(
)
6 1
EXPERIMENT I.
I took an equal quantity of an infufion of fuperfine green Tea, and of common bohea Tea, made equally ftrong ; and alfo the fame quantity of the liquor remaining after diftillation (Sect. III. i .), and of fimple water; into each of which, con- tained in feparate veffels, I put two drachms of beef, that had been killed about two days.
The beef, which was immerfed in the fimple water, became putrid in forty-eight hours ; but the pieces in the two infufions of Tea, and in the liquor remaining after diftillation, {hewed no figns of putrefaction, till after about feventy hours \
EXPERIMENT II. .
% * , *
Into firong infufions of every kind of green and bohea Tea that I could procure, I put equal quantities of fait of iron (fal martis), which immediately changed the feveral infufions into a deep purple colour \
- . It
1 See Percival’s Experimental EfTays, p. 119, et feq. whereirrmany ingenious ex- periments and obfervations are related.
In thi$ experiment, four ounces of infufion were drawn from two drachms of each kind of Tea, and one grain of fal martis added to the refpedtive infufions.
See
(• 6a )
It is evident from thefe experiments, that both green and bohea Tea pofTefs an antifeptic (Experiment I.), and aftrin- gent power (Experiment II.), applied to the dead animal fibre.
See Neumann’s Chemiftry by Lewis, page 377. Short, on the Nature and Properties of Tea, p. 29. The firft author I have met with, that tried this experiment, was J. And. Hahn, who wrote in the year 1722. De herb® exotic® The® infufo, ejufque ufu et abufu, Erford, 4to. Though it fhould be premifed, that Nic. de Blegny, who publifhed his work, intituled, Le bon ufage du <Thei See. in 1680, takes notice of the aftringency of Tea, from which quality he deduces many of its virtues. Vid. A6t. Eruditor. V. vi. page 49. Ann. 1 638.
\
SECTION
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SECTION II.
Nevertheless, as I have often obferved that drinking Tea, particularly the moft highly-flavoured fine green, proves remarkably relaxing to many perfons of tender and delicate conftitutions, I was induced to profecute my enquiries farther.
1. To this end I diftilled half a pound of the beft and moft fragrant green Tea with fimple water % and drew off an ounce of very odorous and pellucid water, free from oil, and which on trial (Section I, Experiment II.) fhewed no figns of aftringency.
2. That part of the liquor which remained after diftillation, was evaporated to the confiftence of an extract ; it was fiightly odorous, but had a very bitter, ftyptic, or aftringent tafte. The quantity of the extract thus procured weighed about five ounces and a half2.
EXPERIMENT III.
a. Into the cavity of the abdomen, and cellular membrane of a frog, about three drachms of the diftilled odorous water (No. i.) were injected.
1 J. Andr. Hahn takes notice alfo of the odour of the water diftilled from Tea.
1 The fame author prepared an extract from this Tea, though in a lcfs propor- tion than my experiment afforded, or what Neumann relates from his.
In
In twenty minutes* one. hind leg of the frog appeared much affected, and a general lofs of motion and fenfibility fucceeded r. The affedtion of the limb continued for four hours, and the univerfal torpidity remained above nine hours; after this the animal gradually recovered its former vigor, b. In like manner fome of the liquor remaining after the diftib Jation of the green Tea (No. i.) was injected ; but this was not produdtive of any fenfible effedt.
EXPERIMENT IV.
a. To the ifchatic nerves laid bare, and to the cavity of the abdomen of a frog, I applied fome of the diftilled odorous water (No. i. and Experiment III, i.). In the fpace of half an hour, the hindermoft extremities became altogether paralytic and infenfible ; and in about an hour afterwards the frog died.
b. In like manner I applied the liquor remaining after diftillation (No. i . and Experiment III. a.) to another frog; but no fedative or paralytic effedl was obfervable.
1 The® infufum, nervo mufculove ran® admotum, vires motrices minuit,
perdit. Smith, Tentamen inaugurale de adtione mufculari. Edinburgh, p. 46.
Exper. 36.
. . ' 3. From
—
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3. From thefe experiments the fedative and relaxing effects of Tea appear greatly to depend upon an odorous fragrant principle, which abounds mod: in green Tea, particularly that which is mod: highly davoured *. This feems farther confirmed by the practice of the Chincfe, who avoid udng this plant, till it has been kept at lead: twelve months, as they find when recent it podTefTes a foporiferous and intoxicating quality. (Part I. Sect. IX.)
Thus often under trees fupinely laid,
Whilft men enjoy the pleafure of the fhade,
Whilft thofe their loving branches feem to fpread To fcreen the fun, they noxious atoms died,
From which quick pains arife, and feize the head.
Near Helicon, and round the learned hill
Grow Trees, whofe blodoms with their odour kill \
1 Two drachms of this odorous water were given to a delicate perfon. He was foon after affedted with a naufea, ficknefs, general lownefs, and debility, which con- tinued for fome hours, which he obferves ufually follows the ufe of fuperfine green Tea.
Smelling forcibly at the fame has occafioned fimilar effedts upon fome delicate people. Dr Blegny, who wrote in 1680, attributes conftderable virtues to this fragrant odour, which he recommends to be breathed into the lungs, where it adts as a fedative, according to his own relation, producing deep, and relieving pains of the head. Agreeable to Counfellor De Blegny’s experience, I know a lady, frequently troubled with a nervous head-ach, who ufed to hold her head over a hot infuhon of Tea, and thus receive the fragrant exhalation, which always affords her the moft. inftantaneous and effectual relief.
2 Arboribus primum certis gravis umbra tributa eft Ufque adeo, capitis faciant ut fsepe dolores.
Si quis eas fubter jacuit proftratus in lierbis.
Eft etiam in magnis Heliconis montibus arbos
Floris odore hominem tetro confueta necare. Lucretius, B. 6.
K .SECTION
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SECTION III.
Waving, however, any attempts to fix with precision’ the effe&s of Tea from thefe experiments alone, let us en- deavour to collect from obfervation likewife, fuch facfts as may enable us to judge what its effects are on the human frame, and from thence draw the cleared: inferences we can, how far it is falutary or otherwife.
The long and conftant ufe of Tea, as a part of our diet, makes us forget to enquire whether it is poflefled of any medi- cinal properties. We fhall endeavour to confider it in both refpe<fts.
The generality of healthy perfons find themfelves not appa- rently affedted by the ufe of Tea : it feems to them a grateful refrefhment, both fitting them for labour and refrefhing them after it. There are infiances of perfons who have drank it from their infancy, to old age ; have led, at the fame time,, active, if not laborious lives ; and yet never felt any ill effects, from the conftant ufe of it.
Where this has been the cafe, the fubje&s of both fexes were for the moft part healthy, firong, atfiive, and temperate* Amongft the lefs hardy and robuft, we find complaints, which are afcribed to Tea, by the parties themfelves. ' Some com- plain that after a Tea breakfaft, they find themfelves rather
fluttered ;
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^ a -
Ail
m
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fluttered ; their hands lefs fleady in writing, or any other em- ployment that requires an exa 61 command of fpirits. This pro- bably foon goes off, and they feel no other injury from it. Others again bear it well in the morning, but from drinking it in the .afternoon, find themfelves very eafily agitated, and affected with a kind of involuntary trembling.
There are many people who cannot bear to drink a tingle difh of Tea, without being immediately tick and difordered at the flomach : To fome it gives excruciating pain about that part, attended with general tremours. But in general the mod tender and delicate conflitutions are mofl affe&ed by the free ufe of Tea ; being frequently attacked with pains in the flomach and bowels ; fpafmodic affections ; attended with a copious difcharge of limpid urine, and great agitation of fpirits on the leaf! noife, hurry, or diflurbance.
K a
SECTION
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> •
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SECTION IV.
There is one circumftance, however, that renders it more difficult to inveffigate the certain effects of Tea ; which is, the great unwillingnefs that moft people ffiew, to giving us a genuine account of their uneafy fenfations after the free ufe of it ; from a confcioufnefs that it would be extremely impru- dent to continue its ufe, after they are convinced from expe- rience that it is injurious.
That it produces watchfulnefs in fome conftitutions is moil certain, when drank at evening in conhderable quantities. Whether warm water, or any other aqueous liquor, would have the fame effedt, is not certain.
That it enlivens, refrefhes, exhilarates, is likewife well known. From all which circunffiances it would feem, that Tea contains an addve penetrating principle, fpeedily exciting the addon of the nerves ; in very irritable conftitutions, to fuch a degree as to give very uneafy fenfations, and bring on fpafmodic affeddons : in lefs irritable conftitutions, it rather gives pleafure, and immediate fatisfaddon, though not without occafionally producing fome tendency to difagreeable tremours and agitation.
The
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The finer the Tea, the more obvious are thefe effects. It is perhaps for this, amongft other reafons, that the lower clafTes of people, who can only procure the molt common, are in general the leaft fufferers. I fay, in general, becaufe even amongft them there are many who actually fuffer much by it : they drink it as long as it yields any tafte, and, to add to its flavour, for the moil; part hot ; and thus the quantity which they take, and the degree of heat in which it is drank, confpire to produce in them, what the finer kinds of Tea effect in their fnperiors.
It ought not, however, to pafs unobferved, that in a multi- tude of cafes the infufions of our own herbs, fage for in- fiance, mint, baum, even rofemary, and valerian itfelf, will fometimes produce fimilar effects, and leave that fenfation of emptinefs, agitation of fpirits, flatulence, fpafmodic pains, and other fymptoms, that are met with in people, the moft of all others devoted to Tea.
Befides the injuries which the fiomach fufiains, by taking the infufion of Tea extremely hot ; it is not improbable but the teeth alfo are affedted by it. Profeflor Kalm, in his Travels into North America, obferves, that fuch of the inha- bitants as took their Tea and food in general, in this fiate, were frequently liable to lofe half their teeth at the age of twenty, without any hopes of getting new ones. This cannot be attributed to the variations of weather in that clime, becaufe the Indians who enjoy the fame air, but take their viands almofi cold, were to a great age poflefled of fine white teeth ;
as
( 7° )
as were likewife the Europeans who firft fettled in America, before the ufe of Tea became general. It was no lefs re- markable, that the Indian women, who had accuftomed them- felves to drink this infufion after the European fafhion, had likewife loft their teeth prematurely, though they had for- merly been quite found \ Kalm does not appear to fuf- fpe<ft any injury to the teeth from the fugar ufed with the Tea.
1 Vol. I. p. 282. Ed. 2.
SECTION
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SECTION. V.
M any, from a fuppofition that Tea was dried in India on copper, have attributed its pernicious properties to this metal ; but we have already obferved (Part I. § vm.), that, if Tea were tindtured with the leaf! quantity of copper, it might eafily be detected by chemical experiments.
Some have attributed the injurious qualities of this fafhionable exotic upon the ftomach to the fugar ufually drank with the Tea ; but I have had fufficient opportunities of obferving in the Weft Indies the good efFedts of drinking freely the juice of the fugar-cane, to obviate this objedtion. I have known feeble emaciated children, afftidted with worms, tumefied abdomen, and a variety of difeafes, foon emerge from their complicated ailments, by drinking large draughts of this fweet liquor, and become healthy and ftrong k
4C While
' In fome parts of Scotland the common people give children large draughts of fugar and water to deftroy worms. See alfo Boerhaav. Elem. Chemiae, Tom. II. p. 160. Hiftorifch Verhaal. &c. inde Voorreeden Bezoar. London, 1715, 8vo. Slare de Sacchar. et lapid. Van. Swieten Commen. v. V. p. 586. Duncan, in his Avis Salutaire, frequently introduces fugar as an agreeable poilon, though he offers no proof in fupport of this epithet. Dr. Robertfon, in his Hiftory of Charles V. Vol. I. p. 401, 8vo. obferves, that tc fome plants of the Sugar-cane were brought from Alia ; and the firft attempt to cultivate them in Sicily was made about the
middle
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64 While flows the juice mellifluent from the cane,
48 Grudge not, my friend, to let thy flaves, each morn,
“ But chief the fick and young, at fetting day,
“ Themfelves regale with oft-repeated draughts “ Of tepid nectar, and make labour light T.”
That there is fomething in the finer green Teas, that pro- duces effects peculiar to itfelf, and not to be equalled by any other fubftance we know, is, I believe, admitted by all who have obferved, either what pafTes in themfelves, or the accounts that others give of their feelings, after a plentiful ufe of this liquor. Nor are the finer kinds of bohea Teas incapable of the like influence. They affedf the nerves, produce tremblings, and fuch a flate of body for the time, as fubjedts it to be agi- tated by the rnoft trifling caufes, fuch as fhutting a door too haflily, the fudden entrance even of a fervant, and other the like caufes.
middle of the 12th century. From thence they were tranfplanted into the fouthern provinces of Spain. From Spain they were carried to the Canary and Madeira Ifles, and at length into the New World. Ludovico Guicciardini, in enumerating the goods imported into Antwerp, about the year 1560, mentions the fugar which they received from Spain and Portugal as a conliderable article of import. He defcribes that as the produdl of the Madeira and Canary iflands. Defcritt. de Paeft Baffi, p. 180, 1 8 1 . The fugar-cane was either not introduced into the Weft-Indies at that time, or the cultivation of it was not fo conliderable as to furnifh an article in com- merce. In the middle ages, though Sugar was not raifed in fuch quantities, or employed for fo many purpofes, as to become one of the common neceftaries of life, it appears to have been a confiderable article in the commerce of the Italian States.” It is, however, well ascertained, that the Sugar Cane is indigenous to South America, and the Weft Indies. Mofeley on Sugar, p. 29.
* Granger’s Sugar Cane, 4to. p. 109. See all'o p. 9.
(( Dulces bibebant ex arundine fuccos. Lucan.
MsXt JtocXex^viv 70 hr/Ofuvcv <ruxyuoi, „ Arrian.
I know
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1 know people of both fexes, who are condantly feized with great uneafinefs, anxiety, and oppreffion, as often as they take a tingle cup of Tea, who neverthelefs, for the fake of company, drink feveral cups of warm water, mixed with fugar and milk, without the fame inconvenience.
A phytician, whofe acquaintance I have long been favoured with, and who, with fome others, was prefent when the pre- ceding experiments were made at the college of Edinburgh, has a remarkable delicacy in feeling the effects of a fmall quan- tity of fine Tea. If drank in the forenoon, it affe6ts his do- mach with an uneafy fenfation, which continues for feveral hours, and entirely takes away his appetite for food at dinner ; though at other times, when he takes chocolate for breakfad, he ge- nerally makes a very hearty meal at noon, and enjoys the mod: perfect health. If he drink a fingle difli of tea in the afternoon, it affecds him in the fame manner, and deprives him of fleep for three or four hours through the fucceeding night ; yet he can take a cup of warm water with fugar and milk, without the lead inconvenience.
It may be remarked that opium has nearly the fame effect upon him as Tea, but in a greater degree ; for he informs me, that when he once accidentally took a quantity of the folution of opium, it had not the lead tendency to induce deep, but produced a very difagreeable uneadnefs at his domach, ap- proaching to naufea. The late celebrated Profedbr Whytt x, of Edinburgh, affords a driking example how injurious the effecds of Tea may be upon conditutions, which I diall relate in his
1 Whytt’s Works, 4to. p. 642.
L
1
own
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own words. 64 1 once imagined Tea to be in a great meafure unjuftly accufed ; and that it did not hurt the fiomach more than an equal quantity of warm water ; but experience has fince taught me the contrary. Strong Tea drunk in any con- fiderable quantity, in a morning, efpecially if I eat little bread with it, generally makes me fainter before dinner than if I had taken no breakfaft at all ; at the fame time it quickens my pulfe, and often affedts me with a kind of giddinefs. Thefe bad effects of Tea are molt remarkable when my fiomach is out of order.”
SECTION
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SECTION VI.
I am informed likewife by a phyfician, of long and ex- tenfive practice in the city, that he has known feveral inflances of a fpitting of blood having been brought on, by breathing in an air loaded with the fine duft of Tea. It is cuftomary for thofe who deal largely in this article to mix different kinds to- gether, fo as to fuit the different palates of their cuftomers. This is generally performed in the back part of their fhops, feveral chefts perhaps being mixed together at the fame time. Thofe who are much employed in this work are at length very often fufferers by it ; fome are feized with fudden bleedings from the lungs or from the noftrils ; and others at- tacked with violent coughs, ending in confumptions.
Thefe circumftances are chiefly brought in fight to prove, that, behdes a fedative relaxing power, there exifls in Tea an active penetrating fubflance, which, in many conflitutions, can- not fail of being productive of lingular effects.
An eminent Tea -broker, after having examined in one day upwards of one hundred chefts of Tea, only by fmelling at them forcibly, in order to diftinguifh their refpeCtive qualities, was the next feized with a violent giddinefs, head ach, univer-
L 2 fal
( 76 J
fal Ipafms, and lofs of fpeech and memory. By proper afflft- ance, the fymptoms abated, but he did not totally recover. For, though his fpeech returned, and his memory in fome degree, yet he continued, with unequal fteps, gradually lofing flrength, till a partial paralyfis enfued, then a more general one, and at length he died. Whether this was owing to the effluvia of the Tea, may perhaps be doubted. Future accidents may pof- libly confirm the fufpicions to be juft or other wife.
SECTION
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SECTION VII.
An affiftant to a Tea broker, had frequently for fome weeks complained of pain and giddinefs of his head, after ex- amining and mixing different kinds of Tea : the giddinefs was fometimes fo confiderable, as to render it neceflary for a perfon to attend him, in order to prevent any injury he might fuffer from falling or other accident. He was bled in the arm freely, but without permanent relief ; his complaint returned as foon as he was expofed to his ufual employment. At length he was advifed to be electrified, and the fhocks were direCted to his head, The next day his pain was diminifhed, but the day after clofed the tragical fcene. I faw him a few hours before he died ; he was infenfible ; the ufe of his limbs almoft loft, and he funk very fuddenly into a fatal apoplexy. Whether the effluvia of the Tea, or electricity, was the caufe of this event, is doubtful. In either view the cafe is worthy of attention *.
A young man of a delicate conflitution, had tried many pow- erful medicines in vain, for a depreffion of fpirits, which he
1 From thefe inftances of the deleterious effects of Tea, one might be led to fup- pofe that the fame unhappy confequences would frequently attend thofe who are employed in examining and mixing different kinds of Tea in China ; but there the Teas are mixed under an open Hied, through which the air has a free current, by which the odour and the dull are diffipated : but in London this bufinefs isufually done in a back room, confined on every fide.
laboured
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laboured under to a degree of melancholy, which rendered his iituation dangerous to himfelf and thofe about him. I found he drank Tea very plentifully, and therefore requeued him to fubfiitute another kind of diet ; which he complied with, and afterwards gradually recovered his ufual health. Some weeks after this, having a large prefent of fine green Tea fent him, he drank a confiderable quantity of. the infufion on that and the following day. This was fucceeded by his former dejedtion and melancholy, with lofs of memory, tremblings, a pronenefs to great agitation from the moft trifling circumftances, and a numerous train of nervous ailments. I faw him again, and he immediately attributed his complaints to the Tea he had drank ; fince which he has carefully denied himfelf the fame indulgence, and now enjoys his former health.
I have known many other infiances, where lefs degrees of depreflion, and other complaints depending upon a relaxed irri- table habit, have-' attended delicate people for many years and though they have had the advice of fkilful phyficians, yet in vain have medicines been adminifiered, till the patient has re- frained from the infufion of this fragrant exotic1.
1 Van Swieten, in his Commentaries on Boerhaave’s aphorifms, fpeaks of the effects of Tea and Coffee in the following manner. “ Vidi plurimos, his potibus diu abufos, adeo enervatum corpus ha'ouiffe, ut vix languida membra traherent, ac plures etiam apoplexia et paralyli correptos fuiffe.” Tom. III. § 1060, p. 362,' de paralyli.
SECTION
SECTION
VIII.
In treating of this fubftance, I would not be underftood to be either a partial advocate, or a paffionate accufer. I have often regretted that Tea fhould poffefs any pernicious qualities, as the pleafure which arifes from reflecting how many millions of our fellow-creatures are enjoying at one hour the fame amufing repafl ; the occafions it furnifhes for agreeable conver- fation ; the innocent parties of both fexes it daily draws toge- ther, and entertains without the aid of fpirituous liquors; would afford grateful fenfations to a focial breafl. But juftice demands fomething more. It hands charged by many able writers, by public opinion, partly derived from experience, with being the caufe of many diforders ; all that train of dihempers included under the name of nervous are faid to be, if not the -offspring, at leafl highly aggravated by the ufe of Tea. To enumerate all thefe would be to tranfcribe volumes. It is not impoffible but the charges may be partly true. Let us examine them with all poflible candour.
The effeCt of drinking large quantities of any warm aqueous liquor, according to all the experiments we are acquainted with, would be, to enter fpeedily into the courfe of circulation, and pafs off as fpeedily by urine or perfpiration, or the increafe of •feme of the fecretions. Its effeCts on the folid parts of the
conflitution
( 80 )
conflitution would be relaxing, and thereby enfeebling. If this warm aqueous fluid were taken in confiderable quantities, its effects would be proportionable ; and flill greater, if it were fub- flituted inflead of nutriment r.
That all infufions of herbs may be confidered in this light l’eems not unreafonable. The infufion of Tea, neverthelefs, has thefe two particularities. It is not only pofTefTed of a fedative quality (Sect. II. Exp. III. IV.), but alfo of a con- fiderable aflringency (Sect. II. Exp. II.) ; by which the relax- ing power afcribed to a mere aqueous fluid is in fome meafure corrected. It is, on account of the latter, perhaps lefs injurious than many other infufions of herbs, which, befides a very flight aromatic flavour, have very little if any flypticity, to prevent their relaxing debilitating effedfs.
Tea, therefore, if not too fine, nor drank too hot, or in too great quantities, is, perhaps, preferable to any other vegetable infufion we know. And if we take into confideration likewife its known enlivening energy, it will appear that our attachment to Tea is not merely from its being coflly or fafhionable, but from its fuperiority in tafle and effects to mofl other vegetables.
1 Vide Trattato di Medicina prefervation : Scritto da Carlo Gianella. Veron. . 1751. p. 1 12. Simon Pauli, who took a pleafure in oppofing the ufe of Tea, in- dulges himfelf with the irony of the following lines :
Dr in ft Wiin and warff \
Dr in ft Beer and verdarff.
Dr in ft Waater and Jlarjf :
Or;
Drink Wine, and profit ; Drink Beer, and grow thin ; Drink Water, and die.
SECTION
SECTION IX.
It may be of fome ufe in our inquiries to confider its effeds where it has been long and univerfally ufed. Of Japan we know little at prefent : of China we have more recent accounts ; from thefe it appears, that Tea of fome kind, coarfer or finer, is drank plentifully by all degrees of people; the general provifion of the lower ranks efpecially is rice, their beverage Tea. The fuperior dalles of people drink Tea ; but they likewife partake of animal food, and live freely.
Of their difeafes we know but little, nor what effeds Tea may have in this refped. They feldom or never bleed. The late Dr. Arnot, of Canton, a gentleman who did his profeffion and his country honour, and was in the higheff eflimation with the Chinefe, I am informed, was the firfl perfon who could ever prevail upon any of the Chinefe to be blooded r, be their maladies what they might. It would appear from hence, that inflammatory difeafes were not frequent among them ; other- wife a nation, who feem fo fond of life as the Chinefe are re- puted to be, would by fome means or other have admitted of this almofl only remedy in fuch cafes. May wre infer from hence, that inflammatory difeafes are lefs frequent in China,
* See Du Halde’s hiftory of China, V. III. p. 36a. He obferves here, that bleed- ing is not entirely unknown amongft the Chinefe.
M
than
/ * -
( 8» )
than in fome other countries, and that one caufe of this may be the conftant and liberal ule of this infufion ? Perhaps, if we take a view of the ftate of difeafes, as exactly defcribed a century ago, and compare it with what we may obferve at prefent, we may have a collateral fupport for this fugged: ion. If we confider the frequency of inflammatory difeafes in Sydenham’s time, who was both a confummate judge of thefe difeafes, and defcribed them faithfully, I believe we fhall find they were then much more frequent than they are prefent ; at leaft, if any deference is due to the obfervations of judicious perfons, who mofily agree, that genuine inflammatory difeafes are much more rare at prefent, than they were at the time when Sydenham wrote. It is true, this difpofition, admitting it be fadf, may arife from various caufes ; amongft the reft, it is not improbable, Tea may have its fhare.
SECTION
( 83 )
SECTION X.
Before the ufe of Tea, the general breakfafl in this country confifted of more fubflantial aliment 1 ; milk in various fhapes, ale and beer, with toaft, cold meat, and other additions. The like additions, with fack, and the molt generous wines, found their way among# the higher orders of mankind. And one cgnnot fuppofe but that fuch a diet, and the ufual exercife they took, would produce a very different flate of blood and other animal juices, from that which Tea, a little milk or cream, and bread and butter, affords.
It was not the breakfafl only that-feems to have contributed its fhare towards introducing a material alteration in the animal fyflem, but the lubfequent regale likewife in the afternoon.
1 The late Owen Salufbury Brereton, Efq. a gentleman well known among the learned, had in his poffeffion a MS. dated “ apud Eltham, menfe Jan. 22, Hen. viij.” intituled, “ Articles devifed by his Royal Highnefs (the title of Majefty was not given to our Kings till a reign or two after), with Advice of his Council, for the Elfablifh-. ment of good Order and Reformation of fundry Errors and Mifufes in his Houfehold |nd Chambers.” In p. 85, “ The queen’s maids of honour to have a chet loaf, a manchat, a gallon of ale, and a chine of beef, for their breakfafts.” Compare the Archaeologia, publiflied by the Society of Antiquaries of London, Vol. III. p. 157. Hume’s Hiftory of England, Vol. IV. p. 499. Hiftoria delle cofe occorfe nel regno d’Inghilterra in materia del Duca di Notomberlan dopo la morte di Odvardo vi. Venice, 1*38.
M a
Tea
( 84 )
I
Tea is a feconcl time brought before company ; it is drank by mod people, and often in no very fmall quantities. Before the introduction of this exotic, it was not unufual to entertain after- noon guefts in a very different manner ; jellies, tarts, fweet- meats ; nay, cold meat, wine, cyder, ftrong ale, and even fpi- rituous liquors under the title of cordials, were often brought cut on thefe occasions, and perhaps taken to excefs, much to the injury of individuals.
This kind of repaft would tend to keep up the natural in- flammatory diathefis, which was the refult of vigour, and a pleni- tude of rich blood, as well as favour difeafes originating from fuch caufes. It feems not unreafonable therefore to fuppofe, that, as the diet of our anceftors was more generous, their exer- cifes more athletic, and their difeafes more generally the pro- duce of a rich blood, than are obfervable in the prefent times, thefe debilitating effeCls before-mentioned may in part be attributed to the ufe of Tea, as no caufe appears to be fo general and fo probable.
SECTION
( 8S )
SECTION XI.
I f thele fuggeflions are admitted, they will aflift us in determining when and to whom the ufe of Tea is falutary, and to whom it may be deemed injurious. Thofe, for inftance, who either from a natural propenfity to generate a rich inflam- matory blood, or from exercife, or diet, or climate, or all to- gether, are difpofed to be in this fltuation : to thefe the ufe of Tea would feem rather beneficial, by relaxing the too rigid folids, and diluting the coagulable lymph of the blood, as a very fenfible and ingenious author very juftly flyles it \
There are idiofyncrafes, certain particularities, which are- objections to general rules. There are, for inflance, men of this temperament, flrong, healthy, vigorous, and with not only the appearance, but the requifites of firm health, to whom a few difhes of Tea would produce the agitations familiar to an hyfleric woman ; but this is by no means general : in common they bear it well, it refrefhes them, they endure fatigue after it, as well as after the moft fubftantial viands. Nothing re- freflies them more than Tea, after lafling and vehement exer- cife. To fuch it is undoubtedly wholefome, and equal at leaft, if not preferable, to any other kind of regale now in ufe.
1 Fhilofophical Tranfa&ions, Vol. LX. 1770. p.368, & feq.
But*
( -86 )
But, if we confider what may reafonably be fuppofed to hap- pen to thofe who are in the oppofite extreme of health and vigour ; that is, the tender, delicate, enfeebled, whofe folids are debilitated, their blood thin and aqueous, the appetite loft or depraved, without exercife, or exercifing improperly ; in fhort, where the difpofition of the whole frame is altogether oppofite to the inflammatory ; the free and unreftrained ufe of this in- fufton, and fuch accompanyments, muft unavoidably contribute to fink the remains of vital ftrength ft ill lower.
Between thefe two extremes there are many gradations ; and, every thing elfe being alike. Tea will in general be found more or lefs beneficial or injurious to individuals, in proportion as their conftitutions approach nearer to thefe oppofite extremes. To defcend into all the particulars would require experience and abilities, more than I can boaft. Suffice it to fay, that, except as a medicine, or after great fatigue, large quantities are feldom beneficial, nor ffiould it ever be drank very hot ; and, as hath been already mentioned, the finer Tea, the green efpecially, is more to be fufpedted than the common or middling kinds.
SECTION
SECTION
XII.
The experiments and obfervations hitherto related render it evident, that Tea pofTeffes a fragrant volatile principle, which in general tends to relax and enfeeble the fyftem of delicate perfons, particularly when it is drank hot, and in large quan- tities. I have known many of this frame of confiitution, who have been perfuaded, on account of their health, to deny them- felves this fafhionable infufion, and received great benefit (Sect. VJI.). Others, who have found their health impaired by this indulgence, are unhappily induced to continue it for want of an agreeable fubflitute, efpecially for breakfaft.
But, if fuch cannot wholly omit this favourite regale, they may certainly take it with more fafety,^by boiling the Tea a few minutes, in order to diffipate this fragrant principle (Sect. II. i, and Exp. IV.) which is the mod noxious; and extract the bitter, adringent, and moddomachic part (Sect. II. 2, and Exp. III.) indead of preparing it in the ufual manner by infufion.
An eminent phyfician in the city, frequently experiencing the prejudicial effects of Tea by drinking it in the ufual form, was induced, from reading a differtation upon this fubjedl, publifhed fome time fince at Leyden to try the infufion pre-
1 Siftens Obfervationes ad vires These pertinentes. Lugd. Batav. 1769.
pared
( S8 )
pared after another manner. He ordered the Tea to be infufed in hot water, which after a few hours he caufed to be poured off, hand over night, and to be made warm again in the morn- ing for breakfaft. By this means, he allures me, he can take, without inconvenience, near double the quantity of Tea, which formerly, when prepared in the ufual method, produced many difagreeable nervous complaints.
The fame end is obtained by fubftituting the extract of Tea (Sect. II. 2.) inftead of the leaves. It may be ufed in the form of Tea, by diffolving it in warm water ; and, as the fra- grancy of the Tea is in this cafe diffipated, the nervous relaxing effects, which follow the drinking it in the ufual manner, would be in great meafure avoided. This extract has been imported into Europe from China, in flat round dark-coloured cakes, not exceeding a quarter of an ounce each in weight, ten grains of which, diflolved in a fuflicient quantity of water, might fuflice one perfon for breakfaft. It might alio be made here without much ex pence or trouble (See Sect. II. 2.).
It is remarkable, that in all the forms which Du Halde re- lates, for adminiflering Tea as a flomachic medicine among the Chinefe, it is ordered to be boiled for fome time, or prepared in fuch a manner, as to caufe a.diflipation of its fragrant perifli- able flavour ; which practice, as it feems confonant to experi- ments here (Sect. II. Exp. III.), may probably have taken its rife in China, from long experience and repeated fa6ts.
. SECTION
( 89 )
SECTION XIII.
Perhaps it will not be deemed foreign to an eflay upon this Subject, to take a concife view of the manners and difpofitions of the Chinefe, as we have done of their difeafes. Thofe who are bed: acquainted with human na- ture feem to afcribe even to their food, and way of life, as well as to their climate and education, certain propensities at lead; to vice and virtue ; and it may be of ufe to draw what light we can in thefe refpects, from the character of a people, who have ufed the infufion of Tea for a long Series of years. _ - •
They are in general defcribed to be a people of moderate Strength of body, not capable of much hard labour, rather feeblc when compared with the inhabitants of Some nations, excelling in fome minute fabricks and manufactures, but exhi- biting no proofs of elevated genius in architecture, either civil or military. They are Said to be pufillanimous, cunning, extremely libidinous, and remarkable for dissimulation and SelfiShneSs1, effeminate, revengeful, and difhoneSt \
* See Anfor/s Voyage round the World, 8vo. p. 366,. and many later autho- rities.
1 See likewife Du Halde’s Hiftory of China, Vol. IF. p. 75, 130, etteep Les Lcttres Curieufes et Edihantes des Jeluites.
N
It
( 9® )
It would be unjuft to afcribe all thefe qualities to their man- ner of living : other caufes have undoubtedly their thare : but it may be fufpected, that the manner of life, or kind of diet, that tends to debilitate, virtually contributes to the in- creafe of the meaner qualities. When force of body is want- ing, cunning often fupplies its place ; and if not regulated by other principles, it would difcover its effedts more uni- verfally ; and thus will take place whether the debility is natural, or acquired by a diet that enfeebles the body. That there is a probity, fortitude, and generoftty, in female minds, not inferior to the like qualities poftefted by the other fex, is moft certain ; but that it is generally fo may perhaps be doubted ;
though both
Not equal, as their fex not equal feem’d ;
For contemplation he and valour form'd,
For foftnefs the, and fweet attractive grace T.
Whether the prefent age exhibits as many inftances of fu- perior excellence as the preceding, is beyond my abilities to determine : that it is tarnifhed more than fome others with one vice at leaft, is generally confelled ; and it may, perhaps, be a problem not unworthy of conlideration, whether the general ufe of Tea may not gradually increafe the difpolition. For whatever tends to debilitate, feems tor the moft part to augment corporeal fenfibility. The fame perfon, who in health
1 Milton’s Paradife Loft.
does
does not ffart at the firing of a cannon, lhall be extremely difconcerted when funk by difeafe to the border of effeminacy, at the fudden opening of a door. Defire is not always propor- tioned to bodily ffrength : it may fometimes be ftrongeft when the corporeal ffrength is at the loweft ebb ; it is often found fo ; and therefore another reafon occurs, why the general ufe of Tea ought not to be confidered as the moff indifferent of all l'ubjecSts.
From what has been faid upon this fubje6t, it will probably be admitted, that children and very young perfons in ge- neral fliould be deterred from the ufe of this infufion. It weakens their flomachs, impairs the digeffive powers, and favours the generation of many difeafes. We feldom perceive the rudiments of fcrophulous difeafes fo often any where as in the weak feeble offspring of the inhabitants of towns, and whole breakfaft and fupper often confiff of the weak runnings of ordinary Tea, with its ufual appurtenances. It ought by no means to be the common diet of boarding-fchoois ; if it be al- lowed fometimes as a treat, the children fhould at the fame time be informed, that the conhant ufe of it would be injurious to their health, ftrength, and conftitution in general.
( 92 )
SECTION XIV.
mY
T hus far Ihave chiefly endeavoured to trace the effedls of Tea as a part of our diet. In medicine it has at prefent but very little reputation among ft us. It is even fcarcely ever re- commended as a part of the furniture of a fick chamber ; it is feldom mentioned even as a gentle diaphoretic : in cafes, how- ever, where it is neceftary to dilute and relax, to promote the
thinner fecretions, it promifes at leaf! as much advantage as
/
moft other infufions. For, befides its other effects, it feems to contain fomething fedative in its compofttion (Sect. II. Exp. III. IV.), not altogether unlike an opiate. Like this clafs of medicines, it mitigates uneafinefs,' perhaps more than any other merely aqueous infufton : and, like very fmall dofes of
opium, it fometimes prevents reft, and gives a temporary flutter to the fpirits.
Where, therefore, large quantities of the infufton muft be taken, to produce or fupport a conftderable diaphorefts, a de- codlion of Tea, or a ftrong infufton, may be admin iftered with
i
great propriety, particularly in inflammatory complaints ; the fedative power of Tea, aftifted by the diluting effedts of warm water, generally producing a diaphorefts, without ftimulating the fyftem. The Chinefe moft commonly give it as a medicine in decodtion, in a variety of difeafes ; but if the infufton were
drawn
( 93 )
drawn from a large proportion of fine Tea, and foon poured off, that the hneft part may be procured, and drank warm, it would feem preferable as an attenviant and relaxant.
I have more than once given fine green Tea in fubftance with fome diluting vehicle, and obferved the fame effects nearly as are produced from taking the infufion. Thirty grains of this kind of Tea powdered, taken three or four times at as many hours interval, generally relaxes the folids, diminifhes heat and reftleffiiefs, and induces perforation. Such a dole as produces a flight naufca, which this quantity ufually does, more certainly induces a perfpiration, and a mitigation of the fymptoms ac- companying inflammatory complaints. If this dofe be doubled, the naufea and ficknefs will be increafed, and a difagreeable fenfation or load is felt for fome time about the region of the ftomach, which ufually goes off with a laxative flool.
SECTION
( 94 )
SECTION XV.
It is faid that in Japan and China the ftone is a very unufual diftemper, and the natives fuppofe that Tea has the quality to prevent it b So far as it foftens and meliorates the water, which is very bad, it may certainly be of ufe \ We may alfo obferve here, that every folvent is capable of taking up a limited quantity only of the folvend, and, when fully fa- turated with it, is incapable of fufpending it long ; hence it is plain, that the quantity of the ftony matter carried off mult be greater when the urine is increafcd in quantity, and has not been too long retained in the bladder : and therefore, as Tea is a diuretic, it may in this view prove lithonthriptic.
Tea, we have already obferved, contains an ahringent anti- fcptic quality (Sect. I. Exp. I, II.) It likewife poflefTes no inconsiderable degree of bitternefs ; and, as the uvse urli, and other bitters, have mitigated levcre paroxyfms of the ftone, may not Tea prove ferviceable alfo by its antacid quality ?
1 Vid. Alex. Rhod. Sommaire, &c. J. N. Peclilin. Obf. xxvii. de Remed. Artlir. Prophyladt. p. 2,76. Baglivius in doloribus calculofis et podagricis earn ipecialiter commendavit, p. 117. Vogel. Mat. Med. Thee Folia. Sir G. Staunton, Vol. II. p. 68, 69.
s By long boiling, water is certainly freed from fome of the earthy and laline fubftances it may contain, and thereby rendered coniiderably fofter : but it is by no means altered in thefe refpe<fts by infilling with Tea. See Percival’s Experiments and Obfervations on Water, p. 27 et 33.
It
1
( 95 )
It is an obfervation I have often had occahon to make, that people, after violent exercife, or coming off a journey much fatigued, and affected with a fcnfe of general uneatinefs, at- tended with third: and great heat, by drinking a few cups of warm Tea, have generally experienced immediate refrefhment. It alfo proves a grateful diluent, and agreeable fedative, after a full meal, when the ftomach is oppreffed, the head pained, and the pulfe beats high 1 * * * 5 & ; hence the Poet fays,
“ The Mufe’s friend, Tea, does our fancy aid,
“ Reprefs thofe vapours which the head invade,
“ And keeps that palace of the foul ferene,
“ Fit on her birth-day to dilute a queen.”
Waller,
1 This is particularly remarked, as one of the good effects of Tea, by Do Blegny,
who wrote in 1680, which he probably copied from Alex. Rhod. Sommaire des
divers Voyages, See. printed in 1653. See alfo Chamberlayn on Coffee, Tea, and
Chocolate, p. 40. Le Compte’s Memoirs and Gbfervations, p. 227. Home’s
Principia Medicinae, p. 5. Cheyncci Tra (flatus, p. 89. Percival’s Experimental Effays, p. 130. Tiffot on the Difeafes of Literary and Sedentary perfons, p. 145,
& feq. Dr. Kirkpatrick, in his notes upon this Work, relates the cafe of a Lawyer, who had been troubled for fome time with the gravel and ftone, and taken many medicines in vain ; till at length he refoH ed to try the effects of Tea, an account of which is given by himfelf in the following words. “ I had never ufed myfelf to “ Tea, fo that the drink was new to me. I took a quarter of an ounce of fine bohea “ Tea, and, pouring a quantity of boiling water upon it, fuffered the infufion to “ ftand till it grew cold, I then poured it off clear, and drank three cups of it in “ the morning, at the diftance of about an hour between each, two cups faffing, “ one after breakfaff, and a fourth two hours after dinner. The firff day, the only “ effect produced was a more plentiful difeharge of urine ; but the fecond day 1 “ voided in the morning twelve large fragments, a nucleus of the lize of a final 1 pea, “ with fome gravel ; and what gave me more fatisfadfion was, that the ufe of the “ Tea kept my body open as in perfect health.”
SECTION
XVI.
( 9<5 )
SECTION
I shall finifli thefe remarks with fome reflections on this herb, confidered in another light.
As luxury of every kind has augmented in proportion to the increafe of foreign fuperfluities, it has contributed more or lefs its fhare towards the production of thofe low nervous difeafes, which are now fo frequent. Amongft thefe caufes, excefs in fpirituous liquors is one of the moffc confiderable ; but the hrft rife of this pernicious cuftom is often owing to the weaknefs and debility of the fyftem, brought on by the daily habit of drinking Tea 1 ; the trembling hand feeks a temporary relief in fome cordial, in order to refrefh and excite again the enfeebled fyftem ; whereby fuch almoft by ncceffity fall into a habit of intemperance, and frequently intail upon their offspring a va- riety of diftempers, which otherwife probably would not have occurred.
Another bad confequence refulting from the univerfal cuflom
of Tea-drinking, particularly affeCts the poor labouring people*
whofe daily earnings are fcanty enough to procure them the
ncceffary conveniences of life, and wholefome diet. Many
» '
1 See Percival’s Experimental EfTays, p. 12,6. Duncan, in his Avis Salutaire* takes occafion to be merry upon the ufe and influence of Tea and hot liquors ; whilft he would not deprive voluptuous perl’ons of their idol, he would prevent it from burning its adorers, as Moloch did. Methufelah, he obferves, who lived near 1000 years, was a water-drinker ; but, flnce the time of Noah, the firfl: wine- drinker, the life of man is contracted, and difeafes augmented.
of
' V
of thefe, too defirous of vying with their fuperiors, and imi- tating their luxuries, throw away their little earnings upon this foreign herb, and are thereby inconfiderately deprived of the means to purchafe proper wholefome food for themfelves and their families. In the words of Perfius we may here juftly exclaim,
O curas hominum quantum eft in rebus inane !
I have known feveral miferable families thus infatuated, their emaciated children labouring under various ailments de- pending upon indigeftion, debility, and relaxation. Some at length have been fo enfeebled, that their limbs have become diftorted, their countenance pale, and a marafmus has clofed the tragedy \
Thefe effects are not to be attributed fo much to the peculiar properties of this coftly vegetable, as to the want of proper food, which the expence of the former deprived thefe poor people from procuring. I knew a family, con- fiding of a mother and feveral children, whofe fondnefs for Tea was fo great, that three times a day, as often as their meals, which generally confided of the fame articles, they regularly fent for Tea and fugar, with a morfel of bread to fupport nature ; by which practice, and the want of a due quantity of nutritious food, they grew more enfeebled ; thin, emaciated habits and weak conftitutions characfterifed this
1 See Dr. Walker’s excellent Remarks, in jVTemoirs of the Medical Society, Vol. II. p. 43.-
o
did reded
difire fled family, till fome of the children were removed from this baneful nurfery, by which they acquired tolerable health.
My valuable friend, Dr. Walker, of Leeds, in Yorkffiire, has noticed, in feveral parts of that extenfive and commercial county, and particularly in Leeds ; that, “ fince the more plentiful introduction of Tea into the families of. the induflrious poor, by the late reduction of its price, the Atrophia LaCtan- tium, or Tabes Nutricum, a fpecies of decline, has made an unufually rapid progrels. The difficulty with which animal food is procured by the low^er ranks of fociety, in quantity fufficient for daily nutriment, has led many of them to fubftitute, in the place of more wholefome provifions, a cheap infufion of this foreign vegetable, whofe grateful flavour (and perhaps narcotic quality, which it pofleffes in a fmall degree in common with molt other ever-greens) is found to create an appetite for itfelf, in preference to all other kinds of aliment that the fcanty income of poverty allows thefe deluded objeCts to procure ; though I am forry to have occafion to add, that the lowering effeCfs of tea-drinking lead too many of thefe to feek relief from fpirits, and other pernicious cordials, at the expence of health, and the fure confequences of penury and want.
“ As this change, in the article of diet, has been very ge- nerally made, efpecially by the females, and the younger brandies of the^ families of the manufacturing poor, their conititutions have been rendered much lefs able to bear evacuations of any tort, and particularly that of laCtation. I may, with great truth, aver, that more than two hundred patients of this denomination have, within the lafl two years,
come
( 99 ) ’
come under my notice : upon their application for relief, and the confequent enquiry which I have been led to make refpedting the nature of their diet, their aim oft invariable reply has been, that they have chiefly depended upon Tea for their fupport, at the fame time that they were permitting an apparently healthy child to draw the whole of its nourifhment from them.
“ That it is debility, and an impoverifhed ftate of the whole fyftem, arifing from a deficiency in the due fupply of proper and fufficiently nutritious aliment, at a time when the con- ftitution particularly requires it, in confequence of the continual wafte' which the mother fuftains from the fuckling of her infant, which lay the foundation of this difeafe, and that the lungs are but fecondarily or fymptomatically affedted, is clearly evinced from an attention to the fymptoins.
“ The patient firft complains of languor, and general weaknefs ; lofs of appetite ; fatigue after exercife, though it be of the gentleft kind ; wearifome pains in the back and limbs ; foon after which, fymptoms of general atrophy come on ; the face, in particular, grows thin, and is marked by a certain delicacy of complexion ; palenefs about the nofe ; but with a final! degree of fettled rednefs in the cheeks. In a fhort time, if the patient ftill continues to give fuck, fhe is feized with tranfitory ftitches in the fides, under the fternum, ‘ or in fome other part of the thorax ; accompanied with a fliort dry cough, and flight dyfpnaea, upon any mufcular exertion ; the pulfe alfo becomes frequent, but feldom fo hard as in the inflammatory ftate of the genuine phthifis pulmonalis ; morning fweats next
O % -make
make their appearance ; abfceffes and ulcers are often formed in the lungs ; pus mixed with mucus is expectorated ; the general weaknefs increafes ; the emaciated patient is unable to fupport an eredt pofiure ; and at laft dies literally ex- hauftedf’
An ingenious author obferves, that as much fuperfluous money is expended on Tea and Sugar in this kingdom, as would main- tain four millions more of fubjedts in bread k And the author of the Farmer’s Letters calculates, that the entertainment of lipping Tea cofts the poor each time as follows :
The tea — — —
The fugar — —
The butter — —
The fuel and wear of the Tea equipage
x
T
St
When Tea is ufed twice a day, the annual expence amounts to 7I. 1 2s. ahead. And the fame judicious writer eflimates the bread, neceffary for a labourer’s family of five perfons, at 14I. 15s. qd. per annum2. By which it appears, that the yearly expence of Tea, Sugar, &c. for two perfons, exceeds that of the neceflary article of bread, fufficient for a family of five perfons.
j Effays on Huibandry, p. 166. 2 Vol. 1. p. 202. and 299.
It
( 101 )
It appears alfo, from a moderate calculation, that twenty- one millions of pounds of Tea 1 are annually imported into Eng- land. In the beginning of the prefent century the annual public fales by the Eaft-India Company did not much exceed
50.000 pounds weight, independently of what little might be clandeftinely imported. The Company's annual fales about this time, 1797, approach to twenty millions of pounds; being an increafe of four hundred fold in lefs than 100 years, and an- fwers to the rate of more than a pound weight each in the courfe of the year, for the individuals of all ranks, fexes, and ages, throughout the Britifh dominions in Europe and America \
Since the year 1797, it is probable, that the import of Tea has increafed in a much greater ratio ; for the Eail-India Com- pany, at their fale in September 1798, put up 1,300,000 pounds of bohea ; 3,500,000 pounds of congou and campoi ;
400.000 pounds of fouchong and pekoe ; 600,000 pounds of finglo and twankay ; 400,000 of hyfon ; hyfon tkin 100,000; making, in the whole, 6,300,000 pounds, the quantity fold in the autumnal quarterly fale : and it may be prefumed, from the table annexed, (p. 1. Section IV.) and other documents, that at leaf: 30,000,000 of pounds are annually imported into Europe and America !
1 If we include the quantity fmuggled into this kingdom, the confumption might be calculated at half a million more.
1 Compare Sir George Staunton’s EmbafTy, vol. I. p. 22.
FINIS.
( I0= )
*
DIRECTIONS FOR THE PLATES.
Green Tea, to front the title page.
Bohea Tea
Olea fragrans
Camellia Sefanqua
Boxes for conveying plants by fea
ERRATUM.
P. 41. 1. 10. for than that read as,
\
Page 41 43
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