to reside in _Tea_, but which I assert are equally to be found
in _European_ Plants; for the _Chinese_ are guilty of a fulsome
Exaggeration, when they assert that it has a Tendency to prolong
Life. The Virtues, then, of the _Tea_, seem to be most accurately
described by _Rhodius_ and _Martinius_, who seem to have reduced them
to three Heads; the first of which, according to _Rhodius_, is, that
it alleviates Pains of the Head, and represses Vapours: The second,
that it corroborates the Stomach: And, the third, that it expels the
Stone and Gravel from the Kidneys. These Virtues are, by _Martinius_,
recited in the following Order: To the drinking of this warm Liquor, it
is said to be owing, that the _Chinese_ are Strangers to the Gout and
Stone. When drank after Meals, it removes Crudities and Indigestion.
When exhibited to drunken Persons, it affords them Relief, and prevents
the bad Consequences of Surfeits; for it is of a drying Nature, carries
off superfluous Humours, expels somniferous Vapours, and removes the
languid State of Students, who are oppressed by long Application. These
Virtues are, at present, to be carefully examined. I shall not here
speak of those Qualities, which are the Result of its Temperature;
since I before evinced, that the whole Substance of the _Tea_ was
grateful to the Brain; but at the same time shewed, from a singular
Observation, that _Betony_ was possessed of the same Virtues and
Qualities.
First, then, it is asserted of _Tea_, that it removes the bad
Consequences of Surfeits, because it is of a drying Nature, and
carries off superfluous Humours: The same Effects are also produced
by _Betony_: But as for the Expulsion of somniferous Vapours, and
removing the languid State of hard Students; these Properties are more
frequently ascribed to the true _Myrtle_, than to _Betony_; which,
however, as we shall afterwards shew, is also recommended against
Intoxication.
The second Virtue of _Tea_ macerated in warm Water, is, that it
corroborates the Stomach; which Effect is also remarkably produced by
_Betony_.
The third Virtue it is said to be possessed of, is, that it frees
the Kidneys from Stones and Gravel; for which Reason, according to
_Martinius_, the _Chinese_ are Strangers to nephritic and arthritic
Disorders. _Betony_ remarkably produces this Effect, and, at the same
time, is a powerful Preservative against the Gout. The other Qualities
of _Tea_, enumerated by other Authors: I shall not here mention, that I
may, at more Length, compare it with _Betony_. The Reader may, however,
consult my _Quadripartitium_, and _Antonius Musa_, who, in _Libell.
de Betonica_, affirms, that _Betony_ is possessed of so excellent
medicinal Virtues, that it cures no less than forty-seven Disorders;
which none of the _Chinese_ have ever dared to assert, concerning
their _Tea_: The _Asiatic Tea_ is, therefore, far inferior to the
_European Betony_. The same Author affirms, "That _Betony_, previously
taken, prevents Intoxication." By which Words, _Musa_ insinuates,
that it guards against a Surfeit, and, consequently, frees us from
Drowsiness; so that the whole Substance of it is equally grateful and
refreshing to the Brain with _Tea_. It were to be wished, that this
Physician had directed the Method of preparing _Betony_, in order to
prevent Intoxication; by which Means the _Europeans_ would, in all
Probability, have been encouraged to greater Care and Diligence in
cultivating, drying, and separating the small from the large Leaves
of our _Chamelæagnus_, a Decoction of whose Flowers would have been
as grateful to them as that of the _Chinese Tea_ is to them. But if
any should foolishly dread the Use of the _Chamelæagnus_, which,
however, is much used, and greatly extolled in _Denmark_, and the Lower
_Saxony_; such Persons may, I think, substitute _Betony_ in its Room.
But, if a Physician should order an _European_ Cobler, or Day-Labourer,
frequently to use a Decoction of _Betony_, they would sneeringly bid
him use his insipid Water himself. But the Custom of drinking _Tea_
only prevails, because it is a new Thing, unknown to the Forefathers
of the _Chinese_, and is imported from _Asia_ into _Europe_, whose
Inhabitants of all Ranks are so excessively fond of it, on account of
its grateful Bitter, and sub-astringent Taste: The same may be said of
the _Indian Chocolate_, and the Water impregnated with the _Chavva_
of the _Persians_, since these three Liquors have generally no more
grateful a Taste, than a Decoction of coarse _European_ Pears, or what
the _Germans_ call a _Pear-souse_.
But, as _Antonius Colmeri de Lodesma_ has given a distinct Account of
_Chocolate_, and the Method of preparing it, the Reader may expect that
I should say something of the Use and Method of preparing the Water of
_Chavva_; and this I shall the more willingly do, because no Physician,
or Botanist, so far as I know, has expresly, but only accidentally,
and imperfectly, given the History of the _Chavva_. But I would advise
Physicians to order the Use, not only of _Chocolate_, but also of the
_Chavva_, very sparingly; though both Liquors are highly commended
by the high and learned, as well as the low and illiterate Part of
Mankind: For _Hieronymus Benzo_, who, according to _Dalechampius, Lib.
18. Histor. General. Plant._ calls it, "A Wash rather fit for Hogs,
than a Liquor proper for human Creatures." _Benzo_, after residing
above an Year in the Province of _Nicariquan_, in _America_, had, all
the while, a mortal Aversion to this Liquor; till, falling short of
Wine, he learned to imitate the Natives, that he might not be under a
Necessity of drinking Water perpetually. This Liquor, by its somewhat
bitter Taste, refreshes and refrigerates the Body, without intoxicating
those who use it. This is the principal and dearest Commodity of those
Countries; nor do the _Indians_, who use it, esteem any thing more
highly, according to _Clusius, Lib. 2. Exot. Cap. 29._ and _Anonym.
Auctar._ in _Dodon_. I must own I should, with _Benzo_, have preferred
pure Water to this unnatural Mixture, which, as well as _Coffee_,
and _Tea_, the _Europeans_ may very well want, without any Loss of
Health: And it were to be wished, that the excessive Demands for all
these, did not excite People of sordid Tempers, to adulterate them,
with Substances of heterogeneous Parts, and such as are unfriendly to
Nature. This, as I have before mentioned, with respect to _Tobacco_,
is the Reason why, in our Age, we are seized with Disorders, the
Names of which are not so much as mentioned in the Writings of the
Antients. Hence _Bartholin_ thinks, "That Aromatics and Spices, which
are no less the Causes of Wars in _Europe_, than of Commotions in the
Body, ought to be prohibited; since the Purposes of Life and Health
will be far better answered, by cleansing the Blood now and then with
the Leaves of the _Coluthea_, Water-Cresses, or _Fumitory_. We are
also to chuse an Antidote for common Use; but not the _Theriaca_, of
which the Emperor _Antoninus_ took the Bulk of a Bean every Morning,
nor the _Mithridate_; for these are injurious by their Heat, and
consequently improper for us. But we are to use _Conserve of Roses_,
_Rob._ of _Elder_, Electuaries of _Marygolds_, the _Morus Norvegica_,
and other indigenous Plants, whose Qualities are best suited to our
Temperaments and Constitutions." But the Use of the Herb _Tea_, if it
could be brought fresh and recent from _China_ into _Europe_, would
be more tolerable than that of _Chocolate_, and _Coffee_, which is of
all others the worst: Since a Decoction of the _Chavva_ surprizingly
effeminates both the Minds and Bodies of the _Persians_; by imitating
whom, we shall never arrive at that Vigour and Hardiness, which _Julius
Cæsar_, and _Cornelius Tacitus_, so much admired in our Forefathers.
We have before observed, that _Amurath_, the fourth Emperor of the
_Turks_, under Pain of Death, totally prohibited the Use of _Tobacco_,
lest his Subjects should become barren. But we _Europeans_ heedlesly
go on by the Abuse of _Coffee_, to emasculate ourselves like the
_Persians_, who are fond of Sterility, and, according to _Olearius_,
much more salacious than the _Europeans_; But of this Effect of
_Coffee_ we shall afterwards treat.
As the Fruit of the _Cacao_, or _Cacarate_, which resemble
_Almonds_, are the Basis of _Chocolate_, they are found engraved in
_Tabernemontan. Lib. 3. Cap. 16_. So that I shall here give no Cuts of
them, since I have done that in _Quadripartit. Botan. Class. 3. No. 11,
12._ when, describing the Seed _Bon_, or _Ban_, which is also called
_Buna_, or _Buncho_, and _Bunea_, or the Seed from which is prepared
the _Coava_, _Caova_, _Cavve_, _Choava_, and _Cahvve_, which, by a
Corruption, is, no doubt, the _Coffee_ of the _Europeans_.
If it should be asked, to what Class of Simples, whether that of
Herbs, or Trees, we are to refer the Plant which bears the Seed _Bon_,
from which the Water of _Chavve_ is prepared, and which is also
mentioned by _Olearius_, in _Itinerar. Persiæ, Cap. 17_. I answer,
that some, ignorant of _Botany_, may take it for an Herb, whose
Seeds resemble those of the _Turkish_ Corn, or the _Indian_ Corn, by
_Bauhine_ called _Mays_, or for our Wheat: Whereas, it is no Herb,
but a Tree, by _Olearius_, in the last quoted Passage, described in
the following Manner: "The _Persians_, in smoaking _Tobacco_, have
always the black Water of _Chavve_ present. The Fruit with which they
prepare this Liquor is sent from _Egypt_; and, in the inner Side,
resembles the _Turkish_, though on the outer Side, the _European_
Wheat. This Fruit is of the Bigness of a _Turkey Bean_, and the Shrub
bears a white Flower. The Fruit, or Berries, they burn, or roast,
in a dry Pan; after which they grind them, and boil them in Water,
which they drink, and which has a Kind of hot, unpleasant Taste. It
is esteemed a great Cooler; for which Reason it is drank by most; but
if it is used to Excess, it extinguishes the Inclination to Venery,
and induces Sterility." The Seed _Bon_, or _Ban_, is collected from a
Tree bearing its own Name, if we may believe _Prosper Alpinus, Lib.
de Plant. Egypt. Cap. 16_. This Author, after residing some Years
in _Egypt_, saw the _Bhon-Tree_ in the Green-House of _Hali Bei_,
the _Turk_. An intire Description and Cut of this Tree is also to be
found in _Tom. 1. Lib. 4. Histor. Plantar. Univers. Cap. 5._ Since,
therefore, _Alpinus_ compares this Tree to our _Euonymus_, and says,
that the former resembles the latter: Hence _Caspar Bauhine_, in his
_Pinax_, places it among the Species of _Euonymus_, and calls it the
_Egyptian Bon, like the Euonymus, with a Fruit like Bay-Berries, from
whose Seeds the Egyptians make their Liquor, called Coava._ Though this
Fruit, with respect to Figure, Bark, and Colour, is highly similar
to Bay-Berries, yet it is far less in Bulk. In my Opinion, it most
resembles the Seeds of the admirable _Peruvian_ Tree, Decoctions of
which, are used by the _Eastern_ Nations, the _Egyptians_, _Turks_, and
_Persians_, for corroborating a cold Stomach, assisting Concoction,
and removing Obstructions of the _Viscera_. They also, with Success,
use this Decoction for many Days against old Obstructions, and cold
Tumors of the Liver and Spleen. This Decoction, according to _Alpinus_,
seems also appropriated to the _Uterus_, which it warms, and frees
from Obstructions: Thus, the _Egyptian_ and _Arabian_ Women, for the
due Evacuation of their _Menses_, use this Decoction for several Days
after they commence. Hence, according to _Olearius_, the _Persians_ are
not afraid, lest the Decoction of _Cavve_ render them cold; unless we
should also say, that _Agnus Castus_ which induces Sterility, is also
of a cold Temperature: But this Doubt will be cleared by-and-by. It
were to be wished, that the celebrated _Johannes Weslingius_, who also
travelled into _Egypt_, had had an Opportunity of seeing this Tree;
since he would have given us a more accurate Description of it, than
we have hitherto got; for, in _Commentar. in Prosper. Alpin._ he tells
us, that the Fruit of this Tree is brought from _Jamin_, or _Arabia
Felix_ into _Egypt_; and, that a Decoction of it is sold in some
Thousands of Taverns at _Memphis_. _Prosper. Alpinus_ also, in _Lib.
de Medicina Egyptor. Lib. 4. Cap. 3._ when treating of the Decoctions
used by the _Egyptians_, whether sick, or in Health, tells us, that, in
a particular Manner, they make use of the Decoction called _Choava_,
prepared with the Coats or Husk of the Seeds called _Bon_. Then he
describes the Preparation of _Bon_, by telling us, that it smells like
Corn, Rye, Barley, or Pease, when thrown upon live Coals, and burned
a little. _Alpinus_, however, endeavors to evince, that the Seeds of
_Bon_ consist of two Substances, the one thick and earthy, by which
they brace up and corroborate, and the other thin and subtile, by which
they heat, absterge, and remove Obstructions. That they are highly
drying is certain, but I cannot for this Reason comprehend why _Prosper
Alpinus_ asserts, that Cold prevails moderately in them; for they act
by their whole Substance, both by their Salt and both Kinds of Sulphur:
So that it is highly probable they produce these Effects, on account
of their ungrateful Taste and Smell. But it is said these Seeds are
corrected with Sugar. Thus _Weslingius_ informs us, "that some correct
the Bitterness of this Decoction with Sugar, and preserve the whole
Kernel of the Fruit incrustated with Sugar. Nor is this only customary
in _Egypt_, but also through all the Provinces of _Persia_. This
renders the Seeds _Bon_ not only dear, but scarce, in _Europe_." Though
_Weslingius_ thinks that these Seeds are useful to the _Europeans_,
yet I am of a different Opinion; for, in like Manner, the _Europeans_
have resolved to sweeten, not only their _Coffee_, but also their
_Chocolate_ and _Tea_, without having any View to prevent Disorders, or
recover Health; but only to follow the Customs of the _Asiatics_, and
indulge themselves in a Liquor, whose Taste is pleasant to them.