SCHOPF AMERICAN TRAVELS. 



excepted, everythine" was leafless and hibernate ; and yet we were not 

 below the 37th degree of latitude, and thus 4 degrees to the south of 

 Rome, round about which, even at this time of the year, one can 

 pluck many sorts of flowers. 



North Carolina. 



[II, 176-177.] At Edenton we were for the first time regaled with 

 the domestic tea universally known and beloved in North Carolina. 

 This is made frpm the leaves of the Ilex cassine L., a tolerably high 

 and beautiful tree or shrub, which growing abundantly in this sandy 

 country is very ornamental with its evergreen leaves and red berries ; 

 more to the north and even farther inland it is rarer. It is here 

 generally called Japan, but has this name in common with the South 

 vSea tea-tree (Cassine peragua L.), which likewise grows on the Caro- 

 lina coast, and is also generally esteemed for tea. The people here 

 have a very high opinion of the good qualities of the Japan ; they not 

 only make use of it for breakfast instead of the common Bohea, but in 

 almost every kind of sickness as well. Near to the coast, where the 

 drinking water is not altogether pure, it is pretty generally the custom 

 to boil the water with these leaves. Such an infusion is not unpleasant, 

 if it is properly managed. There are those who in a slovenly manner 

 chop up the fresh leaves, the twigs, the wood, and the bark all to- 

 gether ; but this gives the water a repulsive taste. More careful house- 

 keepers have the leaves, wdiicli may be gathered at any season of the 

 year, culled out in a cleanly way, and dried in an iron kettle over a slow 

 fire ; they then pound them a little in a mortar, so as to keep *them 

 the better in glass bottles, but before putting them up they let them 

 evaporate a while in the air. Prepared thus the taste betters by 

 keeping, and not seldom a pound fetches one to one and a half Spanish 

 dollars. 



[II, 189-199.] We landed on the south side of Albemarle Sound, 

 at the mouth of a small river, on the banks of which were assembled 

 almost all of the dififerent and beautiful ever-green plants which before 

 we had met with only here and there, and dispersed. The sight of such 

 a splendid green coppice in the depth of winter (it was the 31st of 

 December), could not fail to be pleasing. These ever-greens are oftener 

 to be found along the coast where the weather on the whole is milder 

 than farther inland. The most conspicuous of those we found to- 

 gether were: Ilex Aquifolium (Holly). Ilex Cassine (Carolinian 

 Holly or Japan). Prinos glaber (Winterberry). Myrica cerifera 

 (Candleberry-Myrtle). Laurus Borbonia (Bay-tree). Bignonia sem- 

 pervirens? (Yellow Jasmine). Smilax laurifolia and other varieties 

 of this species, which however do not hold their leaves so well as this. 

 Prunus lusitanica (Evergreen-Baytree). Kalmia latifolia & angusti- 

 folia and divers Androniedae, which keep their leaves longer here 



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