22 4 OS BECK'S VOYAGE. 



that reafon they hang it over a boiling pot, fo 

 that it may fweat, and dry it afterwards, t 

 never looked into their apothecaries (hops, but 

 they were always felling Ginfeng. Both poor 

 people and thofe of the higheft rank make ufe 

 of it. According to their opinion, it is an ex- 

 cellent remedy for a confumption, and other 

 difeafes, if they boil half an ounce in their 

 tea or foup, every morning. In 1709 the 

 Emperor gave orders to io/)oo Tartars to go 

 in quefl of thefe roots, and to bring as much 

 as they could find ; of which every one was 

 to give two pounds of the belt to the Emperor, 

 and to fell the reft for the fame weight of fine 

 filver. In this manner the Emperor got 20,000 

 Katye, or Chinefe pounds of Tan-fam, in that 

 one year. 



I was greatly defirous of getting fome' 

 knowledge of the Chinefe officinal herbs, and ; 

 the difeafes againft which they are made ufe 

 of. On this account I applied to thofe who 

 were able to inftrucl: me in this branch of 

 knowledge ; and offered moderate rewards :' 

 but it was abfolutely impoflible ; for firft I 

 could form no idea of their inward difeafes, 

 as the people themfelves are not able to give 

 a clear defcription of them; and the mere 

 1 names 



