GINSENG, 85 
If any one of. the company was wanting, as it 
often happened, either by having wandered out of 
the way, or being attacked by wild) beasts, the 
party devoted a day or two to search for him, and 
then returned to their labour. or. 
The root of the Ginseng is the only part pre- 
served. The collectors bury in the ground every 
ten or fifteen days all that they have procured. 
In order to prepare it for use, they dip it in seald- 
ing water, and scour it with a brush. The roots 
are then prepared with the fumes of a species of 
millet, to give them a yellow colour. The millet 
is put in a vessel with a little water and boiled 
ever a gentle fire... The roots are placed over the 
yessel upon transverse pieces of wood, being first 
covered with. a linen ‘cloth, or) another vessel. 
When treated in this way they assume upon dry- 
ing a horny or semi-transparant appearance. 
_ The roots may also be dried. in the sun, or by 
the fire, and retain their qualities perfectly. In 
this case, however, they have not that yellow col- 
our, which the Chinese so much admire. 
.., ‘Phe Chinese consider the Ginseng as possessing 
unequalled medicinal powers, and their physicians 
have written many volumes upon the | qualities of 
the plant. It is made an ingredient in almost all 
the remedies which they give to their nobility, its 
