Panax quinguefolium. 197 
Jartoux, a missionary at Pekin, who was licensed to make a 
journey through the mountains of Chinese Tartary, with a view 
to acquaint himself with the plant, and the manner of collecting 
and preparing it. According to this writer, it is found in greatest 
abundance between the 39th and 47th degree of north latitude, 
inhabiting the sides of deeply shaded mountains, and the banks of 
streams of water, and near the roots of trees. In all the situa- 
tions where he met with it, it seemed to court the deepest shade. 
The Emperor of China monopolises the privilege of collecting all 
the Ginseng in his dominions, and with a view to preserve his 
right unmolested, he encloses and guards with great vigilance, 
“whole provinces. Notwithstanding the rigorous punishments in- 
flicted on those who venture to infringe his right of collecting this 
precious herb, the inhabitants frequently enter the interdicted tract 
of country in vast numbers, and load themselves with the roots of 
Panax, carrying with them for subsistence, during a long time, 
nothingbut parched millet, and sleeping on the bare ground. From 
those employed by the Emperor himself to collect the roots, he ex- 
pects a gratuitous portion, of two ounces of the best procured, from 
each individual; and pays for all above this quantity its weight in 
silver. This plan insures him an annual receipt of 20,000 Chinese 
pounds at about one-fourth of its real value in the market. The col- 
lectors steep the roots in a decoction of rice or millet, scour them 
with a brush, and then expose them to the fumes of the boiling li- 
quor by placing them on sticks above it, till they become dry witha 
