CHINA. 1751. 319 



(lead of the wine which the company allowed 

 the firfl table. 



The Chinefe drink no coffee, except with 

 the Europeans, though the berries might be 

 procured from Java. 



Turkish tobacco (Nicotiana riiftica) which 

 has the colour of our dried tobacco, is univer- 

 falJy fmoaked in China, both by the old 

 and young. Their pipes are long and 

 black; the heads are very fmall, have the 

 fhape of the cups of acorns, and are made of 

 White metal. They very often fmoak while their 

 tobacco pipes hang on a ribband on one fide. 



Blindness is efteemed the infirmity of this 

 country. Authors relate, that many Chinefe 

 are blind ; but I have not obferved it. It is 

 true, they may flay in their houfes ; but in 

 the ftreets I never faw more than three or four 

 blind old beggar-women, and one or two blind 

 children, among fo many thoufand people. 

 It was lucky that I found fo few, as a Granger 

 could elfe fcarcely pafs. For a blind old wo- 

 man comes with a wooden cliili in her hand, 

 and cries, Lou-tayaTJJaves-laiuma ; if (lie then 

 catches a flranger, by the directions of the 



other 



