ON THE PARAGUAY TEA. 37 
to incur any such risks in order to disseminate the Maté 
throughout the Brazilian States. Care in the preparation of 
the foliage, and the same process as is pursued in Paraguay, 
will do away with all the difference between the original Yeróa, 
and the produce of the same shrub in Curutiba. 
The widely extended use of Paraguay Tea, and the great 
and increasing quantity consumed in South America, may 
well render its culture an object of attention ; and the pos- 
sessionof extensive plantations thus becomes highly desirable. 
At every meal, and at every hour of the day, is Maté drunk, 
and the expense of bringing it to La Assumption doubles 
its original cost in the woods of Paraguay. The mode o 
using it, is to infuse a handful of the pounded foliage in a 
small spouted vessel, called a Maté (whence the plant derives 
its name), and to suck it hot through the tube, which is 
termed a Bombilla, and is perforated on the lower side at the 
end, with small holes, to prevent the escape of the soaked 
leaves which float on the top. The infusion must be made 
with fresh water each time, and drunk off immediately, or the 
liquor becomes as black as ink; but the leaves will bear to be 
steeped at least thrice. 
The whole party is supplied by passing the maté cup from 
hand to hand, or rather from mouth to mouth, and the 
repugnance of Europeans to drinking thus indiscriminately 
after persons, so generally affected with filthy diseases 
as the South Americans, has given rise to the custom of 
putting small glass tubes into the spout of the maté cup, and 
sometimes each individual present brings his own tube. 
e maté cup* is often made of a calabash, mounted with 
silver, and fixed on a stand; or of silver itself, elegantly 
chased and carved. Some persons add a lump of burnt sugar 
or a few drops of lemon juice to the beverage. 
Three kinds of this tea are prepared and vended in South 
* See our Tab. II, where is a representation of a malé cup, in the 
possession of Lady Callcott. The tube is represented a little shortened, 
m order to introduce its upper extremity or mouth into the 
figure, 
