_2d_, Whether _Tea_ is only the Produce of _Asia_, and whether it is
ever found in _Europe_, or not? And,
_3d_, Which of the _European_ Herbs may be most properly used in its
Stead.
_Tulpius_, then, speaks in the following Manner: "In the _East Indies_
nothing is more common than drinking the Decoction of an Herb, which
the _Chinese_ call _Thee_, and the _Japonese_, _Tchia_. As my Accounts
of this Plant were received from the best and most impartial Authors, I
shall willingly hand them down to Posterity. The Herb _Tea_, therefore,
has long acuminated Leaves crenated about the Edges. Its Roots are
fibrous, and divided into very small Shreds. It grows not only in
_China_ and _Japan_, but also in _Chiam_, only the Leaves of the
_Chinese Tea_ are of a blackish green Colour: Whereas the _Japonese
Tea_ is of a fainter Colour, and more grateful Taste. Hence it also
happens, that the _Tchia_ of the _Japonese_, is far more esteemed
than the _Thee_ of the _Chinese_; since one Pound of the former is
frequently sold at an Hundred _Libræ_; for it is in these Parts of
the World believed, that nothing is more salutary and beneficial
than this Herb, whether for protracting Life to extreme old Age, or
for preventing the Attacks of Diseases. It not only renders the Body
vigorous and active, and prevents the Stone, to which none of the
Inhabitants are for this Reason subject, but also removes Head-achs,
Stuffings of the Head, Inflammations, and Distillations of the Eyes,
a Difficulty of Breathing, Weakness of the Stomach, Gripes of the
Intestines, and Weariness. It also so effectually prevents Sleep, that
those who drink it at Night, can sit up, without feeling the least
Inclination to sleep: for it is moderately heating, and by constricting
the Mouth of the Stomach, hinders the Ascent of those Vapours which
are necessary to procure Sleep; so that, by its Means, nothing hinders
or interrupts those who intend to read or write all Night.
"This Plant, however, seems neither to have been long known, nor
long used, among the _Chinese_, since they have no hieroglyphical
Characters, such as most of their Letters are, which express its Nature
and Qualities. These two Nations also differ widely, with respect to
the Manner of using _Tea_; since the _Japonese_ mix the _Tea_, powdered
in a Marble Mortar, with warm Water: Whereas, the _Chinese_, boil the
Plant itself with some Liquor, adding a few Grains of Salt, or Sugar.
This Decoction, they drink with their Friends and Visitors; and even
their leading Men do not think it beneath them, but rather a Piece of
Honour to prepare the _Tea_ for their Guests; for which Purpose they
have Closets in their Palaces, fitted up on purpose, in which they keep
their Pots, Tripods, Tunnels, Cups, Spoons, and other _Tea_ Utensils,
which they buy at an exorbitant Price, preserve in Silk, and only use
when their best Friends visit them. These, they esteem as much as we
do Adamants, Gems, and the most precious Stones. See _Joh. Maffæus_,
_Rer. Indicar. Lib. 6. & 12._ _Ludovic_, _Almeid. Select. Epist. Lib.
4._ _Petr. Garric. Tom. 2. Lib. 2. Cap. 17._ _Matth. Ricius, de Christ.
Expedit. apud Sinas, Lib. 1. Cap. 7._ _Alois Frois, in Relat. Japon.
Jac. Bontius, Dialog. 6._ _Med. Indorum, & Johan. Linseot, Cap. 26._"
_Nicolaus Trigautius_, in _Tractat. de Regno Chinæ, Cap. 3._ where
he treats of the Things produced in _China_, gives us the following
Particulars, with respect to _Tea_: "I purposely, says he, omit the
Description of many Things necessary, such as Marbles of different
Colours, Carbuncles, and other Stones and Gems, not unfit for painting;
odoriferous Woods, Bitumens, and an incredible Number of other
Curiosities; but I neither can, nor ought to pass over, in Silence, two
or three Things, unknown to the _Europeans_; the first of which is,
that Shrub, of the Leaves of which is prepared that celebrated Liquor,
called _Cia_, by the _Chinese_, _Japonese_, and neighbouring Countries.
It is not possible, that the Herb from which this is prepared has
been very long used by the _Chinese_; since, in order to represent
it, they have no hieroglyphical Characters, such as all their Letters
are. Hence it may, perhaps, be suspected, that our _European_ Woods
produce this Herb. They gather the Leaves in the _Spring_, dry them
in a Shade, and keep them for preparing a Decoction, which they almost
continually use, not only at their Meals, but also when their Friends
come to visit them; for this is generally the Entertainment to which
they invite each other. It is always drank, or rather sipped warm;
nor is it ungrateful to the Palate, in consequence of its temperate
Bitterness; but it is very salutary, and frequently used for various
Disorders. _Tea_ is not with them all of one Price; since, sometimes,
a Pound is sold for a Noble, and, at other Times, for two or three,
if it is accounted good: The best of the _Japonese Tea_ is often sold
for ten or twelve, and the Method of preparing it with these, is
somewhat different from that of the _Chinese_; for the _Japonese_,
having reduced their _Tea_ to a Powder, mix two or three Spoonfuls
of it with a Cup of boiling Water, which they drink when moderately
cool: Whereas, the _Chinese_ throw some of the Leaves into a Vessel
of boiling Water, which, after it has imbibed the Force of the _Tea_,
they drink, leaving the Leaves." But, in the seventh Chapter of the
same Work, which treats of some of the Customs of the _Chinese_, the
Author speaks in the following Manner: "When any one receives a formal
Invitation to a Feast; the Day before, or several Days before, it
is to be kept, the Master sends him a Kind of Ticket, desiring his
Presence: When he is come to the House, and the usual Ceremonies past,
he is set down in the first Hall, where he drinks his _Tea_; after
which he is conducted to the Feasting-Room, which is not adorned with
Carpets, which they never use, but with Pictures, Flowers, Vessels, and
other antient Houshold Furniture." Though these Accounts may satisfy
the Vulgar, yet they will not prove satisfactory to Physicians, who
want to know, whether _Tea_ is an Herb, a Shrub, or a Species of Copse;
for the two last quoted Authors differ from each other; since _Tulpius_
calls the _Chinese Tea_, "an Herb, with darkish, green, oblong Leaves,
acuminated and crenated about the Edges, with fibrous Roots, divided
into many small Shreds. Whereas, the Leaves of the _Japonese Tea_
are of a fainter green Colour, and of a more grateful Taste." But
_Trigautius_ affirms, "that it is a Shrub of the Leaves, of which the
celebrated _Cia_, of the _Chinese_ and _Japonese_, is prepared by
Decoction." The former asserts, that the Herb _Tea_, grows not only
in _China_ and _Japan_, but also in _Chiam_: The latter thinks it is
to be suspected, that it is also produced in the _European_ Woods:
But, as I shall afterwards accurately discuss these Points, I shall
only here observe, from _Olearius_, that _Maffœus_, in _Tr. de Rebus
Indicis_, affirms, that the _Japonese_, from a certain Plant, express
an highly salutary Liquor, which they call _Chia_; and _Linschotanus_,
in _Tr. de Insula Japoniæ_, tells us, that the Inhabitants of _Japan_
prepare a Drink called _Chaa_, from a certain Herb: But these Authors
neither mention the Shrub, nor the Leaves, but unanimously assert
_Tea_ to be an Herb. _Jacobus Bontius_, Physician in Ordinary to the
Town of _New Batavia_, in the Island of _Java_, in the _East Indies_,
in _Medic. Indor. Lib. 2. de Conserv. Valetud. Dialog. 6._ affirms,
"that the Leaves of the small Herb, from which _Tea_ is prepared,
resemble those of the _Daisy_ or lesser _Cousound_, and have small
Incisions about their Edges." But since, in the subsequent Chapter,
he affirms, that the Inhabitants of that Country, though brutally
ignorant in every other Respect, have yet such an exact Knowledge of
Roots and Plants, that if _Pavius_, the greatest Botanist of his Age,
was to rise from the Dead, he would wonder to find that he could be
instructed by these Men; I am surprized, he should have despised their
Information, and, contrary to the Custom of their Historiographers,
given us (_Europeans_) such a lame and imperfect Description of _Tea_,
when commenting on the _Indian_ Plants. One would be ready to take it
for an Herb, when he is told, that its Leaves resemble those of the
_Daisy_, and have small Incisions about the Edges, which _Tulpius_
also ascribes to them. It is worth our Observation, that _Tulpius_,
_Trigautius_, _Bontius_, and other Authors, unanimously agree in this,
that the Decoction of _Tea_ is of a pretty, grateful, bitter Taste. In
order, therefore, to clear up these Difficulties, I must have recourse
to the Reverend Father, _Alexander de Rhodes_, who, in his _Sommaire
des divers Voyages & Missions Apostoliques_, speaks in the following
Manner: "Among the most memorable Things in this Country, is _Tay_; the
Use of which is not only common to all the _Eastern_ Countries, but
also begins to be known in _Europe_: It is justly to be reckoned among
the most salutary Substances which I observed in this Country; and I do
not know but it is one of the principal Causes, why the Inhabitants not
only enjoy such a good State of Health, but also arrive at so extreme
an old Age. The Leaves are as big as those of the Pomegranate Tree,
and the Shrub itself resembles the Myrtle Bush. Nor does _Tea_ grow in
any Part of the World, except in two Provinces of _China_, which are
_Nanquin_ and _Chim_, the Inhabitants of which have their Harvests
for _Tea_ Leaves, as we have for our Grain in _Europe_. These Leaves
they dry in Furnaces, and preserve for Use in close stopped Vessels.
It is frequently used through all _China_, _Japan_, _Tonquin_, and
other Kingdoms; and there are such great Quantities of it, that it is
sold at a Small Price. For this Reason they use it frequently every
Day, or rather each Hour, prepared in the following Manner: They throw
the Leaves into boiling Water, which they forthwith take off the Fire;
and when the Leaves have subsided, which is generally in a Quarter of
an Hour, they drink the Water, from which they find three very happy
Effects; the first of which is to repress Vapours, and alleviate Pains
of the Head: For when I laboured under an _Hemicrania_, or any other
Disorder of the Head, by drinking this Water, I had my Pain so quickly
alleviated, as if a Person had done it by the Application of his Hand.
When, for the Sake of hearing Confessions, I was obliged to sit up
whole Nights, I used the same Remedy, and, by its Means, was not only
hindered from sleeping, but also felt no more Uneasiness next Day, than
if I had not sat up. I once made an Experiment of this for six Nights
successively, but must confess I found myself wearied and exhausted.
The second Virtue of this Water, or Decoction, is to corroborate the
Stomach, and the third to purge the Kidnies from Stones and Gravel."
_Bernardus Varenius_, in _Descript. Regni Japoniæ, Cap. 23._ speaks in
the following Manner: "Not only the _Japonese_, but also the _Chinese_,
are delighted with Draughts of almost boiling Water, in which the
Powder of _Tea_ is sprinkled. The Herb _Tea_ is not only Green itself,
but also tinges any Liquor with the same Colour. It grows only in some,
and not in all Countries, and the finer Kind of its Leaves is thought
to be very valuable. These Leaves are, by the richer Sort, kept in
large Vessels, close stopped, in order to prevent the Access of the
Air. The Leaves, before they are used, are reduced to a Powder." And a
little after he subjoins, "This Liquor is pleasant to the Taste, and
highly salutary, especially for carrying off the Uneasiness produced
by Surfeits, and for removing all pituitous Disorders: So that it
is become a proverbial Saying, with respect to the Rich, _How is it
possible they should not enjoy good Health, since they drink the best_
Tsia?" _Olearius_, in the Work before quoted, speaks of _Tea_ in the
following Manner: "We have already observed, that at the _Maidan_
in _Ispahan_, there are, among others, particular Species of Inns,
called _Tzai_, _Chattai_, and _Chane_, in which, as well as in other
Places, the _Persians_ drink an hot, black Water, prepared of an Herb,
brought into their Country by the _Usbeck Tartars_. This Herb has
oblong pointed Leaves, about an Inch long, and half an Inch broad,
which, when dried, are of a blackish Colour, and shrivel up into the
Form of a Worm; but they are the same with what the _Chinese_ call
_Tea_, and the _Japonese_ and _Indians_, _Chia_, and _Cha_. In each of
these Nations, this Herb is highly esteemed; the _Persians_ boil it
with Spring-Water, _Anise_ and _Fennel_: Some of them also add a small
Quantity of _Cloves_ to it. The _Persians_, _Chinese_, _Japonese_,
and _Indians_, ascribe uncommon Virtue and Efficacy to this Water,
affirming, that it produces the most salutary Effects on the Stomach,
Lungs, Liver, Mass of Blood, and all the _Viscera_, which it deterges
and corroborates. It also expels the Stone, removes the Head-ach, and
dissipates that superfluous Humidity, which produces Lassitude and
Drowsiness. By drinking this Water, a Person is rendered so lively,
brisk, and alert, as chearfully to bear the Want of Sleep for several
Nights, and without any Pain, or Fatigue, apply long to Business of
the greatest Importance. This Liquor, when drank in Moderation, not
only preserves Health, but also protracts Life to an excessive old Age.
This Herb _Tea_ is, at present, well known in _Holland_, since the
_East-Indiamen_ bring large Quantities of it to _Amsterdam_." _Johannes
Albertus von Mandelslo_, in _Itinerar. Indiæ Orientalis, Cap. 11._
gives us the following memorable Account of _Tea_: "In our Visits, we
make use of the black Water, in which the Herb _Tea_ is boiled. This
Liquor, which is very common in the _Indies_, is greatly admired, not
only by the Natives, but also by the _English_ and _Dutch_; since it
is said to carry off Phlegm, warm the Stomach, and procure Digestion.
We drink it three Times a Day, namely, in the Morning, Afternoon, and
Evening. The _Persians_ also drink a black Water, called _Chavve_,
which, in Colour, resembles the _Tea_, though its Virtues and Efficacy
are different; since the _Chavve_ is a great Cooler, and procures
Sterility, on which Account, the lascivious _Persians_ chuse to drink
it: On the contrary, the _Tea_ moderately warms, and strengthens, the
Bowels and Stomach."
_Gulielmus Leyl_, a Native of _Denmark_, after his Return from the
_East Indies_, at my Request, courteously wrote me the following
Particulars with respect to _Tea_: "I was informed by the _Chinese_, in
the Islands of _Java_, _Macascar_, _Celebes_, and other Places, that
the _Cha_, or _Thee_, grew in _China_ and _Cathaya_; but that the best
came from _Cathaya_, a Country belonging to the _Tartars_. The Herb
is, in the _Chinese_, _Japonese_, _Tartarian_, _Persian_, _Arabic_,
_Turkish_, and _Indostan_ Languages, called _Cha_; in the Pronunciation
of which Word, it is to be observed, that the _Ch_ is sounded as it
is in _Spain_ and _England_; but is by the _Persians_, _Arabians_,
and _Turks_, expressed by one of their own Characters. By such of
the _Chinese_ as border upon the Sea it is called _The_. In these
Countries, vast Sums of Money are laid out upon this Herb, which is
said to be possessed of very considerable Virtues; for it corroborates
the Stomach, and produces a good Digestion; nourishes the Limbs, and
dissipates and carries off by Urine, or otherwise, all peccant and
redundant Humidity. It also cures the Gout, and prevents, or expels
the Stone and Gravel. During my Residence, for many Years there, I
never had the smallest Symptoms of the Gout, with which I have been
violently afflicted since my Return into _Europe_. The _Chinese_ are
also Strangers to the Stone, and their _Tea_ not only preserves the
Body in good Health, but also removes Intoxication. It prevents Sleep,
and renders Persons alert and chearful in the Dispatch of Business. The
Water prepared of this Herb, is to be drank in a Morning fasting, with
preserved Ginger, as also after Dinner, between Meals, after Supper, or
at any Time, since the frequent Use of it is not hurtful. They boil a
Pint of Water in a Pot, then put a Spoonful of _Tea_ into it, and cover
it close up for a Quarter of an Hour, during which Time they shake it
frequently. Those to whom this Liquor is disagreeable, on account of
its bitter Taste, put Sugar-Candy into the Cup; but, its Efficacy is
greater, when drank without it. The People of Fashion in _China_ and
_Japan_, have their particular Kettles, in which they boil the Water by
itself, and then pour it upon the _Tea_ in another Vessel, which they
cover for a Quarter of an Hour, shaking it frequently."