OF NORTH CAROLINA. 153 



grounds, which has the same figured leaf, only it 

 is larger, and of a deeper green. This may be 

 occasioned by the richness that attends the low 

 grounds thus situated. The third sort has the 

 same kind of leaf, but never grows a foot high, and 

 is found both in rich, low land and on the sand 

 hills. I don't know that ever I found any seed or 

 berries on the dwarfish sort, yet I find no differ- 

 ence in taste, when infusion is made. Cattle and 

 sheep delight in this plant very much, and so do 

 the deer, all which crop it very short and browze 

 thereon wheresoever they meet with it. I have 

 transplanted the sand bank and dwarfish yaupon, 

 and find that the first year the shrubs stood at a 

 stand, but the second year they throve as well as 

 in their native soil. This plant is the In- 

 dian tea, used and approved by all the savages on 

 the coast of Carolina, and from them sent to the 

 westward Indians and sold at a considerable price. 

 All which they cure after the same way as they 

 do for themselves, which is thus : they take this 

 plant (not only the leaves but the smaller twigs 

 along with them) and bruise it in a mortar till it 

 becomes blackish, the leaf being wholly defaced, 

 then they take it out, put it into one of their earth- 

 em pots which is over the fire till it smokes, 

 stirring it all the time till it is cured. Others take 

 it, after it is bruised, and put it into a bowl to 

 which they put live coals and cover them with the 

 yaupon, till they have done smoking, often turn- 

 ing them over. After all, they spread it upon 



