2 :6 O SBECK'S VOYAGE. 



ton, that our people could with difficulty re- 

 imburfe themfelves. The Spaniards fend 

 wines to Manilla and Macao, whence the Chi- 

 nefe fetch a confiderable quantity, efpecially 

 for the court of Peking* The wine of Xeres 

 is more agreeable here than any other fort, 

 on account of its ftrength, and becaufe it k 

 not liable to change by heat. The Chinefe are 

 very temperate in regard to wine, and many 

 dare not empty a fingle glafs, at leaft not at 

 once. Some, however, have learned from 

 foreigners to exceed the limits of temperance, 

 efpecially v/hen they drink with them at free 

 ccft. 



Beer, and fmall beer, is not brewed in this 

 country : all the ftrong beer which is fold at 

 Cqnlm comes from England, in very flrong 



c^.'ks. 



.Arrack, is well known among us, {incethe 

 ufe of punch has been introduced. This li- 

 quor comes from Goa and Baia-via to China , 

 but is not, as fome have related, made in 

 China, of rice alone. It might fooner be ima- 

 gined that it is made of Areca, fince this tree 

 is called Araquero by the Portuguese. If Ar- 

 rack was diftilled of rice, the Chinefe (who 



havo 



