the _Tea_ of the _Chinese_ is an Herb, or a small Shrub? It is
necessary I should previously enquire, whether it is only produced
in _Asia_, or whether any of it is also to be found in _Europe_; as
also which of the _European_ Plants is the most proper Succedaneum to
it? In these Disquisitions, I must, therefore, have recourse to the
Suffrages of the before-quoted Authors. But I must here advise all
Physicians to divest their Minds of Prejudice, and carefully peruse
_Hippocrates_'s Treatise _de Aere, Aquis, & Locis_, by which they
will be informed, how much _Airs_, _Waters_, and _Soils_, agree, or
disagree, and what proportionable Variations, or Alterations, these
Agreements, or Differences are capable of producing. The celebrated
_Hoffman_, in _Lib. 2. de Medicament. Officinalibus, Cap. 15._ when
speaking of the _Myrtle_, tells us, "That we are carefully to attend
to the native Soil and Climate of a Plant, by which it is rendered
either better or worse, in consequence of which, its Faculties and
Virtues will not be the same in different Countries." This Doctrine
I have everywhere inculcated in my _Quadripartitium_, but especially
in the Histories of _Betony_, _Carduus Benedictus_, _Scurvy-Grass_,
_Marsh Trefoil_, _Dragons_ and _Squills_. My Design in advancing this
is, to shew the Probability of the Production of _Tea_, not only in
the Kingdoms of the _East Indies_, such as _China_, _Japan_, _Chian_,
_Nanquin_, and _Cham_; but also, according to the Conjecture of
_Trigautius_, in the _European_ Woods and Forests: And I am the more
inclined to this Opinion, because the celebrated _Olearius_ informs
us, that the _Tartars_ of _Uzbeck_, who, according to _De Laet. in
Descript. Persiæ_, _Cap. 1._ are separated from the _Persians_, wage
War upon them, and export _Tea_ from _Cattajo_ into _Persia_: Besides,
_Gulielmus Leyl_, a Gentleman, not only of Distinction, but also of
untainted Veracity, informs me, in his Letter, that in _Java_ the
greater, _Macassar_, and _Celibes_, he was told by the Inhabitants,
that _Cha_ or _The_ grows in _China_ and _Catajo_; but that the best
is, by the _Tartars_, exported from the latter of these Places, Now,
it is sufficiently known, that _Tartary_, on account of the Elevation
of the Pole, in many Respects, agrees with the _European_ Provinces,
situated under the same Degree of Elevation; so that, it is by no means
absurd to assert that many Trees, Shrubs, and Herbs, should thrive as
well in these _Northern_ Provinces, as in _Tartary_, which, like them,
is diversified with Precipices, Forests, Mountains, Pasture-Grounds,
Vallies, and Rivers. In a word, as _Tulpius_ and _Trigautius_ think
that neither _Tea_, nor its Use, were long known to the _Chinese_,
because they had neither any antient Names for it, nor Hieroglyphics to
express its Nature; I am more and more confirmed, that _Cha_, or _The_,
grows more plentifully in _Catajo_ than in _China_ itself, especially
since _Olearius_ and _Leyl_ inform us, that _Cha_ is a _Tartarian_
Word; and, according to the latter of these Authors, only some of the
_Chinese_, who live upon the Shore, have begun to call _Cha_, _Te_.
Since, therefore, the _Europeans_ frequent _China_, or its adjacent
Islands, much more than they do _Tartary_, and since the _Chinese_
call the _Cha_ of the _Tartars_ _The_, it is probable, that this is
the Original of the Word _Tea_ in _Europe_, But it is to be observed,
that _Tulpius_ asserts, that, the _Tchia_ of the _Japonese_, is far
more valuable than the _Thee_ of the _Chinese_; since a Pound of the
former is sometimes sold at an Hundred _Libræ_ of Silver, which, if
I am not mistaken, amount to forty Crowns. But _Trigautius_ affirms,
that a Pound of the _Chinese_ is sold at one _Noble_, and at most for
two or three; whereas, a Pound of the best _Japonese_ is often sold
at ten or twelve. Father _Rhodius_ tells us, that _Tea_ is no where
produced, except in two Provinces of _China_, _Nanquin_ and _Chim_;
and immediately subjoins, That there was such Plenty of it, that it
sold at a very low Rate: Though these Accounts are inconsistent with
each other, yet it is none of my Business to reconcile them; since
my Design is only to shew, that the _Cha_, the _Tchia_, or _Thee_,
whether a Species of Copse, or an Herb, is indigenous to _Tartary_.
Now, as _Tulpius_ and _Trigautius_ have shewn, that _Tea_ has not been
long known to the _Chinese_; and, as _Olearius_ and _Leyl_ assert,
that it is exported from _Tartary_ into _Persia_, as well as _China_,
I am of Opinion, that it probably began to be known in _China_ when
the _Tartars_ in 1644 made an Incursion into that Country, and that
it was first transported into _Europe_ from the _East-Indies_. And
though the Authors mentioned by _Olearius_ affirm, that the _Thee_ of
the _Chinese_ was known before this Incursion; yet as the _Tartars_
had several Times before laid _China_ waste, it is not improbable, but
the _Chinese_ were, by the _Tartars_, with whom I believe it is cheap,
first taught the Use of _Tea_, as we were by the _Chinese_: For if,
according to _Tulpius_, _Tea_ is sold at so great a Rate in _China_,
or, if a Pound of the best _Tea_ is often sold at twelve _Nobles_ in
_Japan_, I cannot see how the Merchants of _Amsterdam_ and _Hamburg_,
who may reasonably be allowed a fourth of Profit, could afford a Pound
for eight _Nobles_. Since, therefore, _Tartary_ is a very extensive
Kingdom; and since, in some Provinces of it, the _Tea_ of the _Chinese_
grows, I think it very probable, that the same _Tea_ may be found in
the similar, heathy, copsy, and uncultivated Places of _Europe_. We
now come to enquire, whether _Tea_ is an Herb, or a Kind of Copse:
Besides the Authors, therefore, already quoted from _Olearius_, as
affirming that it is an Herb, _Bontius_, _Varenius_, _Olearius_,
_Johannes Albertus von Mandelslo_, and _Leyl_, also call it an Herb:
But _Trigautius_ and _Rhodius_ pronounce it a Kind of Copse, or small
Shrub. If, therefore, we are swayed in our Judgment by the Plurality
of Voices, we must infallibly conclude _Tea_ to be an Herb. But as,
in all Cases, one Eye-Witness is better than ten who take Things upon
Report; and as the two last-mentioned Authors travelled through the
_East-Indies_, it is more reasonable to trust to their Descriptions,
than to those of the others, who, being no professed Botanists, were,
in some measure, misled by botanical Authors, who too often confound
Words, as we have shewn in the Dissertation on _Tobacco_: However, to
reconcile these Differences, we say, that _Tea_ may be defined and
described, either as an Herb, or as a Kind of Copse, or small Shrub;
for as Geographers, in their Descriptions of _Nova Zembla_, and the
_Terra Australis incognita_, make Conjectures about some Things which
they never saw, because they were never there; so, why may not I,
though I never was in _Asia_, make an Attempt to delineate an _Asiatic_
Plant, which is the Herb, or Shrub, _Tea_, in order to prevent that
excessive Import of it, which corrupts our Regimen, and impairs our
Health no less than the _Tobacco_ sent us from _America_? Now, though
_Asia_ furnishes the _Chinese_ with _Tea_, as a salutary Medicine,
yet she obtrudes it upon us, at the same Time we are ignorant what
it is; for which Reason I shall describe _Tea_, both as an Herb, and
as a Kind of Copse, or small Shrub. "_Tea_, therefore, as an Herb,
has oblong Leaves, acuminated, crenated about the Edges, and about
an Inch long, and half an Inch broad. In _China_ these Leaves are of
a dark green Colour, and of a bitter Taste; whereas those produced
in _Japan_, are of a fainter Green, and more grateful Taste, tinging
any Liquor with the same Colour. These Leaves, when dried, become
black, and shrivelled up, like small Worms, and the Herb has a fibrous
Root, divided into many small Shreds." If any should tell me, that
this seems to be a Description of _Betony_, I answer, so it is; and I
would rather perswade the _Europeans_ to use this Herb, possessed of
numberless known Virtues, than to persist in the Use of the unknown
_Tea_ of the _Chinese_, purchased at a great Expence, and calculated
for impoverishing Families. It is indeed certain, that, as the moderate
Use of it, without producing a preter-natural Heat, conforts and dries
the Brain, and whole nervous System, so the immoderate Use of it,
cannot fail to be equally noxious to the _Europeans_ as the Abuse of
_Wine_. _Tea_, as a Kind of Copse, or small Shrub, may be described
in the following Manner: "_Tea_ is a small Shrub, greatly resembling
the _Myrtle_-Bush, with dark green Leaves, as large as those of the
_Pomegranate_, but with small Incisions about the Edges, like those
observable in the Leaves of the _Daisy_. These Leaves are carefully
collected in the _Spring_, dried in a Shade, or in proper Furnaces, and
preserved in pretty large Vessels, close stopped, in order to prevent
the free Access of the Air." If any one should find fault with me for
describing _Tea_, both as an Herb, and as a Kind of Copse, or small
Shrub; I can vindicate myself, by desiring him to compare each of these
Descriptions with the different Accounts given by all the before-cited
Authors, whose Veracity cannot be called in Question. But, perhaps, it
may be objected, that _Bontius_ asserts, that _Tea_ is an Herb, and
describes it as such, and consequently, that I corrupt what I intended
to correct, which happened to _Epicurus_, attempting to rectify the
Doctrines of _Democritus_: I answer, that _Bontius_, through an
Affectation of laconic Brevity, darkened his Description of _Tea_, by
comparing its Leaves, which are crenated, to those of the _Daisy_,
which have small Incisions: Whereas, he might, with more Justice, have
compared them to the Leaves of any Shrub, or Copse: But the Reader
will, possibly, condemn me for _Pyrrhonism_, or _Scepticism_, and
upbraid me with treating of Things, without coming to any fixed and
final Conclusion. But, in answer to this Charge, I affirm, in the Words
of _Vossius de Sect. Philosoph. Cap._ 20. "That _Scepticism_ is not
absolutely to be condemned; since, though many Things are certain,
yet far more are uncertain; and these latter combined and interwoven
with the former, impose on the Mind by their Similitude to Truth; so
that it is necessary to use all Diligence in distinguishing Truth
from Error." _Cicero_, in _Lib. 1. de Natur. Deor._ professes himself
of the same Opinion: "I am none of those, _says he_, to whom nothing
appears true; but I affirm, that Truth and Falshood are sometimes so
intimately mixed, and bear so near a Resemblance to each other, that
there is hardly any Criterion for distinguishing them." But, leaving
all dubious Ratiocinations, we shall now declare our Sentiments in
an explicit Manner, and come to a fixed and determinate Conclusion.
For this Purpose, let us compare the Descriptions which _Dodonæus_
gives us of the Herb _Betony_, and of the Shrub _Chamelæagnus_, with
those two I have given of the _Chinese Tea_: I am then intirely
free from Partiality, when I think that the Properties ascribed to
these two, especially to the _Chamelæagnus_, exactly agree to the
_Chinese Tea_; nor, considering how far I am advanced in Years, do
I care how much I may be ridiculed for maintaining such an Opinion,
since I have long ago formed my Mind upon those noble and exalted
Sentiments, which _Epictetus_, in _Enchirid. Cap. 29._ expresses in
the following beautiful Manner: "If thou inclinest to commence the
Study of Wisdom and Virtue, thou must forthwith prepare thyself for
future Reproach and Contempt, since many will hiss thee, upbraid
thee with becoming a Philosopher all on a sudden, and sneeringly ask
the Reason of thy supercilious Air: Do thou, in the mean time, guard
against a supercilious Behaviour, as much as thou possibly canst;
but, like a faithful Centinel, placed in a particular Post by thy
Master, rigidly maintain and adhere to those Things which, to thee,
appear best and most praise-worthy; and, for thy Comfort, remember
this, that if thou resolutely keepest thy Post, thou wilt, at last,
become the Admiration of those who before derided thee: Whereas, if
thou shamefully quittest thy Station, and succumbest to the heedless
and unthinking Herd, thou wilt be doubly derided." But, as moral
Reflections may be thought impertinent on such Occasions, we shall
return to our Subject. _Dodonæus_, therefore, in _Pemptad. 1. Lib. 2.
Cap. 20._ tells us, "that _Betony_ has oblong, broad, and green Leaves,
somewhat rough, serrated about the Edges, and resembling those of the
Oak, though somewhat smaller." Now, _Tulpius_ informs us, that the
Leaves of _Tea_ are oblong, acuminated and serrated about the Edges:
And _Olearius_ affirms, that they are about an Inch in Length, and
half an Inch in Breadth. _Tulpius_ also asserts, that in _China_, they
are of a dark green Colour; whereas, in _Japan_, they are of a fainter
Colour; so that these Descriptions quadrate very exactly with _Betony_.
The _Chamelæagnus_ is, by _Dodonæus_, in _Stirp. Histor. Pemptad. 6.
Cap. 20._ described in the following Manner: "The _Chamelæagnus_ is a
small and low Shrub, rarely rising to the Height of a Cubit: It sends
forth some Branches, which bear small, broad, and oblong Leaves, not
unlike those of the _Myrtle_, but harder, and frequently longer: All
the Parts of the Shrub, and especially its Seeds, are somewhat odorous:
It delights in wild and uncultivated Soils, which are somewhat marshy
and aqueous." The Authors before quoted, have made no Mention, either
of the Seeds, or Flowers; nor, though I have had an Opportunity of
turning over large Quantities of _Tea_, have I ever found any Part
of a Flower, Stem, Apex, Calyx, Down, Seed, Pods of Seed, Berries,
or any Thing analogous to any of these, except some few Pieces, of
a Kind of arundinacious Grass; from which we may justly infer, that
the _Chinese Tea_ delights in uncultivated, aqueous, and marshy
Soils, as well as the _European Chamelæagnus_; which, as described by
_Dodonæus_, exactly resembles the _Tea_ of the _Chinese_. The Reasons
why I have compared _Tea_ to _Betony_, are sufficiently obvious; since
my Accounts of the former, taken from _Trigautius_, _Rhodius_, and
_Bontius_, exactly agree to the latter; for _Trigautius_ affirms,
that the Leaves called _Tea_, when gathered from a certain Shrub, and
boiled in Water, afford that celebrated Liquor, so much used by the
_Chinese_, _Japonese_, and their neighbouring Nations: And _Rhodius_
asserts, that the Leaves of _Tea_ are, in a great measure, like those
of the _Myrtle_, and, in Bulk, equal to those of the _Pomegranate_. I
have, in a particular Manner, mentioned the Crenations of the Leaves,
because no such Circumstance is specified, either by _Dodonæus_,
in his Description of the _Chamelæagnus_, or by _Trigautius_ and
_Rhodius_, in their Accounts of the Leaves of _Tea_, which, according
to _Olearius_, are about an Inch long, half an Inch broad, and, when
dried, assume a blackish Colour, all which Circumstances hold true of
the _Chamelæagnus_. _Tulpius_ informs us, that the Leaves of _Tea_
are of a dark green Colour, oblong, acuminated, and crenated about
the Edges; and _Bontius_ describes them with small Incisions about
the Edges, like those of the _Daisy_: Besides, if the Reader compares
what _Dodonæus_ advances, with respect to the native Soil of the
_Chamelæagnus_, with the Description I have given of it, he will find
it probable that it is also produced in _Tartary_; so that we have
just Reason to conclude, that the _Cha_ of the _Tartars_, and _Thee_
of the _Chinese_, are nothing else but the _European Chamelæagnus_.
Another Analogy is also to be observed between the Leaves of _Tea_, and
those of the _Chamelæagnus_, which is, that only the larger Leaves of
each of them are crenated. If it should be objected, that _Dodonæus_
inclined to insinuate, that the Leaves of the _Chamelæagnus_ are
like those of the _Myrtle_; and that the Leaves of the true _Myrtle_
are not crenated: I answer, that I am sufficiently apprised of this;
but, at the same time, would have the Objector remember, that _Caspar
Bauhine_ finds some Things wanting in the Figure of the _Chamelæagnus_,
exhibited in the _Latin_ Edition of _Dodonæus_, and for that Reason,
prefers the Figure in the _Dutch_ Edition to it. His Description is
also very defective, since he neither mentions the Crenation of the
Leaves, nor the Sporting of Nature, which are very material Points;
since the Leaves are not all crenated in the same Manner, and sometimes
not crenated at all, especially at the Points, till they have arrived
at a certain Age and Bulk. Similar Sportings of Nature are frequently
to be observed; since, in one and the same Mallow, it often happens,
that one Leaf is not like another. There is also a surprizing Variety,
both in the Form and Number of the Leaves of the _Eupatorium Canadense
Foliis Enulæ Jacobi Cornuti_ of the _Lysimachia Lutea Major_ and
_Minor_, and of the _Pseudolysimachia_. It is also sufficiently known,
that the _Peruvian_ Flower in _Europe_, varies every Day considerably
from the same Flower in _Peru_; but we are not, for this Reason,
to deny that they both belong to the same Species. Thus, though in
_Europe_, there is a Kind of Sporting of Nature in the Leaves of the
_Chamelæagnus_; yet all these Leaves, when most accurately compared
with the _Tartarian_ or _Chinese Tea_, are only found to differ
inconsiderably from them in Size, Colour, and Crenations: So that
we may conclude, that the Shrub _Chamelæagnus_ belongs to the same
Species with the _Tea_ of the _Tartars_ and _Chinese_: But, lest
my own Authority should be questioned, I shall, from that of other
Botanists, prove this surprizing Variation in our own _Chamelæagnus_.
I am indeed sorry that the _Chamelæagnus_ is not sufficiently and
fully treated of, either in the last Edition of _Tabernemontanus_, or
in the _Ebrodunense Herbarium_. But we must supply this Defect from
_Bauhine_, who, in _Pinax. 40. Lib. 11. Sect. 4._ tells us, "That the
_Rhus Myrtifolia Belgica_, or _Chamelæagnus_, has its Leaves sometimes
broad, and sometimes narrow; and I have been told by Dr. _Backmaster_,
that its Leaves are sometimes crenated like those of a Shrub; such
as the _Rosemary_ of the _Northern_ Nations, or our own _Myrtle_."
In 1622, when walking in a Copsy Field, near _Rostock_, I broke off
a small Twig of this _Chamelæagnus_ in the _Spring_, before it was
in the Flower. This I carefully preserved till it was fully dry, and
found the Leaves exactly to resemble those of the _Chinese Tea_, in
Tenderness, Size, Colour, and Crenations. But that this Affinity and
Resemblance might be still farther evinced, I have, in _Quadripartit.
Botan._ given a Cut of one of the tender Leaves of the _Chamelæagnus_,
gathered in the _Spring_, and another of a full grown Leaf, gathered
in the _Summer_; and to these I have added two Cuts of _Tea_ Leaves,
produced in _China_: But, some may object, that the _Chinese Tea_
differs from the _Chamelæagnus_, because, according to _Rhodius_,
the Leaves of the former appear in the Beginning of the _Spring_ at
_Nanquin_ and _Chim_; and, when dried, are so far from resembling
Leaves, that they rather seem to be small Buds or Gems of Shrubs, or
Trees: Whereas, the Branches of our _Chamelæagnus_ are not cut, till
the Middle, or latter End of the _Summer_, and are negligently hung up
in the Shops, with the Leaves, Seeds, and Flowers. These Circumstances,
I confess, must produce a considerable Difference in these Leaves,
not only with respect to Colour and Smell, but also, perhaps, with
respect to Qualities and Virtues. If I should be asked, whether it
is expedient to recommend the _Chamelæagnus_ as a Succedaneum, to
the _Chinese Tea_? I answer, it is highly expedient. If it should
be said, that it affects the Head; I reply, so does _Betony_, which
procures a certain Hilarity, or Agility, to the Brain and Members,
by which Means, it greatly invigorates the Animal Faculty: For this
specific Quality of _Tea_, it is so much used by Statesmen, in order
to render them brisk and active, for the Discharge of their Offices:
For this Class of Men, as well as Physicians, are allowed Angular and
uncommon Indulgences by _Plato_, in _Lib. 3. de Republica_. "The Gods,
_says he_, can obtain no good End by lying to Mortals; but, a Lie
may be useful to sick Persons; for which Reason Lying is pardonable
in Physicians, immediately employed in their Business, but not at
all in Persons of a private Character. In Governors also, Lying is
pardonable, when it has a Tendency, either to promote the Good of their
Subjects, or frustrate the Designs of their Enemies." Some affirm, that
Ale, prepared with the _Chamelæagnus_, excites violent Head-achs, from
which they infer, that its Sulphur is injurious to the Head: But I
would have such Persons remember, that the best Things may be used to
Excess. Thus a Pain is immediately produced in the Head, by the Abuse
of the Wine of the _Rubus Idæus_, or that in which the _Pimpinella
Sanguisorba_ has been macerated. Hence, if you mix but a small Quantity
of the _Chamelæagnus_, full of its Seeds, with Ale, such Ale will
speedily intoxicate those who drink it; but if you put only a few of
the Leaves to the Ale, it will revive the Spirits as effectually as
the _Asiatic Tea_. At the _Hague_, _Sinapi_ is called _Senney_, and in
the _Netherlands_, _Mustard_; but this Change of Names does not hinder
_Sinapi_ from being an Herb of the same Species in these different
Parts. In _Europe_ we are to have a due Regard to the most commodious
Time of gathering the Leaves of the _Chamelæagnus_, which, in _Asia_,
is the _Spring_, and after they are gathered, we are carefully to keep
them in large, close-stopped Vessels. Besides, we are to consider,
that the Climates of _Asia_ and _Europe_ differ very widely; though I
have shewn, that from the same Elevation of the Pole, some _Northern_
Countries have a Climate, not much unlike to that of the _Tartars_.
But some may say, granting that the _Chamelæagnus_, or _Myrtus Nostras
Sylvestris_, is really the _Cha_ of the _Tartars_, and the _The_ of
the _Chinese_ and _Persians_; yet it never arrives at such Perfection
in any Part of _Europe_, as in _Tartary_ or _China_: This, perhaps, I
may grant, with respect to _China_, but not with respect to _Tartary_,
for the Reasons before specified, and on account of the Climate,
which, it is to be suspected, produces _Tea_ of little or no Value;
for it is not so much as mentioned in the following Account of the
_Tartars_, and their Herbs, given by _Antonius Maginus_, in _Comment.
Nov. Geograph_. "The _Tartars_ live in a most sordid, nasty Manner;
since only a very few of them use Table-Cloths and Napkins at their
Meals: They drink Water, Milk, and Ale prepared of Millet. Very little
Wine is produced in their Country; and with that which is imported they
intoxicate themselves, which is with them considered as an honourable
and glorious Thing. They commend the Juice or Milk of Sorrel, because
it corroborates the Stomach, and proves purgative at the same Time.
They chearfully eat various Herbs, especially such as grow near the
_Tanais_, among which they greatly extol an Herb called _Baltracan_,
which greatly nourishes them, and restores their Strength. At the
Season, therefore, when this Herb bears Fruit, the _Tartars_ freely
wander through these Desarts, in which no other Kind of Food or Aliment
is to be found; for, if they can provide nothing else, this Herb,
which they frequently find, and carry home on Carts and Horses, proves
sufficient for their Sustenance." But I shall proceed to contemplate
our _Chamelæagnus_, with greater Accuracy. It is, therefore, certain,
that _Iceland_, a cold and harsh Climate, produces the best _Angelica_
in all _Europe_; and _Norway_, which is somewhat milder, though
intolerably cold in the _Winter_, yet affords those large Quantities of
_Gentian_, and other medicinal Herbs, which the Traders in _Germany_
and _Holland_ have annual Occasion for. It is therefore probable, that
our _Chamelæagnus_ may also be possessed of very singular medicinal
Virtues; and, that it is so, we shall afterwards fully demonstrate. If
it should be objected, that the _Chinese_ and _Tartarian Teas_ have
become famous, but not the _European Chamelæagnus_; I answer, that
the Objection has no Foundation in Reason; because the Qualities and
Temperaments of Medicines are not altered by the Time at which they
began to be in Repute: Thus the _Angelica_ of _Iceland_, and the
_Norvegian Gentian_ are celebrated in _Europe_; and tho' it is not to
be doubted, but _Tartary_, and other Countries, lying under the same
Elevation of the Pole, produce _Angelica_ and _Gentian_ equally good,
yet these Medicines are not there celebrated, because the Inhabitants
have not ventured upon the Use of them. Thus, the perfumed Gloves sent
us from _Greece_, are more esteemed than those smelling of _Amber_,
_Musk_, _Stacte_, and _Cassia_, sent us from _Italy_, and _Spain_,
only because they were famed before these latter Countries began to
use such a Practice; such, and so great, is the Tyranny of Opinion,
and the Force of Custom! It is, therefore, merely an ill-grounded
Opinion, to believe that our _Chamelæagnus_ is inferior in Virtues to
the _Chinese_ or _Tartarian Tea_; or that it is to be neglected, and
not introduced into the Shops. Nor is it reasonable to infer, that it
is not the _Chinese Tea_, because it has never been prepared in their
Manner; or that it ought not to be substituted in its stead, because
it has hitherto been little known, and only used by a few instead of
Hops. Tho' I am always willing to yield to superior and more powerful
Reasons, yet I cannot help thinking, that our _Chamelæagnus_ may be
very commodiously substituted to the _Chinese Tea_. Thus the _Scordium_
of _Crete_ is generally thought the best of all others, for no other
Reason, but that it grows there. The _Germans_ and _Danes_, however,
ceased to import it from _Crete_ and _Venice_, after they discovered
the true _Scordium_, and found large Quantities of it produced in
_Lapland_, which also yielded great Plenty, not inferior to that of
_Asia_; so that we despise the _Asiatic_, in comparison of our own.
Thus, also, when we found from Experience, that the Qualities of our
common _Wormwood_, were not inferior to those of the _Wormwood_ brought
from _Pontus_ and _Rome_, we ceased to bring it from these Places,
and wisely used our own. _Hoffman_, in _Lib. 2. de Med. Offic._ §. 5.
tells us, "That these _European_ Mountains which are most exposed to
a free Air, produce the wild or common _Wormwood_; whereas, those of
the _Pontic_ and _Roman_ Kinds, are only to be found in Gardens." But
how opposite is our Conduct with respect to _Tea_, which, at great
Expence and Trouble, we bring from _Asia_, when large Quantities of
it are produced in _Europe_? It is certainly unaccountable, and an
unpardonable Folly, for a Man, who is rich at Home, to go Abroad and
beg: Now, we are equally foolish, for despising that Plenty we have at
Home, and purchasing, at a great Price, the _Chinese Tea_, when its
Virtues are almost destroyed, as I shall afterwards demonstrate. Some
Persons may, perhaps, reject my Sentiments, unless they found an exact
Agreement between the Decoctions of _Chinese_ and _Tartarian Tea_,
and the _Chamelæagnus_, in Colour, Taste, Smell, and other Qualities;
and I doubt not in the least, but they would find this Agreement,
provided our _Chamelæagnus_ was gathered at a proper Season, treated
in the same Manner with the _Chinese Tea_, and prepared in the Method
used by them. I would have tried Experiments of this Kind, had not
I wrote this Treatise in the _Winter_ Season; but I thought a Delay
of its Publication might be attended with bad Consequences; since
all _Europe_ has large Sums of Money annually drained from it by the
_Asiatic Tea_, I therefore obtest, not only all Physicians, but also
others, fairly to examine, whether my Sentiments and Reasonings on this
Particular are true, or only probable; for most Truths, according to
_Cicero_, have the Disadvantage to be blended with Falshood and Error.
But some Persons may say I advance many Things without establishing
any. I own it is so; for I am like the Images of _Mercury_ set up by
the Highways of the Antients, which pointed out the Road to others,
without ever entering it themselves. Perhaps practical Physicians may
blame me for making the _Chamelæagnus_ a Succedaneum for the _Chinese
Tea_; since it is sufficiently known that the former greatly affects
the Head. I own, indeed, I am subject to Error and Mistake, as well
as other Mortals: But I would have these Physicians consider, that
_Trigautius_ and _Rhodius_ affirm, that the Leaves of _Tea_ resemble
those of the _Myrtle_. Now, the Leaves of the _Chamelæagnus_, when
arrived at their full Growth in the _Summer_, are so like those of
the _Myrtle_, except that these last are crenated at the Points, that
the one cannot be distinguished from the other. They also produce an
Effect similar to those of the _Myrtle_; we must therefore compare the
_Chinese Tea_, the true _Myrtle_, and the _Chamelæagnus_, with one
another, in order, from this Comparison, to ascertain and determine
the Virtues and Faculties of the Leaves of each of them. The Virtues
and Faculties, then, of _Tea_, according to _Tulpius_, are these
following: "It renders the Body vigorous, and removes nephritic Pains,
to which none of the _Chinese_ are, for this very Reason, obnoxious.
It carries off Pains and Stuffings of the Head, Inflammations of the
Eyes, Defluxions, Difficulty of Breathing, Weakness of the Stomach,
Gripings of the Intestines, and Weariness: It also prevents Sleep,
heats moderately, and by constricting the Mouth of the Stomach,
hinders the Vapours from ascending to the Head. This Liquor, when
drank warm, _Trigautius_ thinks highly salutary in a great many
Cases." Though I do not deny these Things, yet, when the _Chinese_
assert, that nothing is more conducive to the protracting of Life to
an extreme old Age than _Tea_, they run into an Hyperbole, no less
glaring and ostentatious than that of _Cicero_, when describing his
own Return, in _L. Calphurn. Pis._ "_Rome_ herself, _says he_, seemed
to move from her Foundation, in order to contemplate her returning
Guardian and Preserver, whom she received with such unbounded and
universal Joy, that even the Walls and Temples of the City seemed to
rejoice." This Happiness of the _Chinese_, is intirely owing to other
Causes; for their Air is clement, and their Regimen so temperate,
as, almost, to come up to that of the _Pythagoreans_; though the
_Tartars_ cannot boast either of such a Climate, or such Moderation.
But, with the _Europeans_, a fuller and more copious Diet is used,
which is therefore productive of more Diseases: Hence, the incomparable
_Bartholine_, in _Consil. Med. de Cometa._ gives the _Europeans_ a
most salutary Advice, by recommending a spare and slender Diet, and
condemning a full and copious Regimen: "Moderate eating of Flesh,
_says he_, is to be injoined; since Excess, in this Respect, is the
Origin of violent Putrefaction, and various Disorders. Thus _Diogenes