172 ILEX PARAGUARIENSIS. 
sively used there for tea. Their leaves are much longer and narrower than 
those of the trees of Paraguay and the Organ Mountains, and their under surfaces 
are invariably dotted with minute black glands. 
Geography and History. The Ilex paraguariensis is found growing spontane- 
ously, intermingled with other trees, in the forests which cover the banks of the 
rivers and streams that fall into the Parana and Uruguay, as well as the sources 
of the Ipane and Jejui. Its principal harvest is made in the eastern part of Para- 
guay, and about the mountains of Maracaja, as well as in the marshy valleys 
which intervene between the hills. It also grows abundantly in Brazil, near 
Curutiba, and about the Organ Mountains, in the country adjacent to Rio Ja- 
neiro. 
In the beginning of the XVIIth century, an infusion of this plant was a gene- 
ral beverage of the inhabitants throughout the provinces of Paraguay, and there 
can be no doubt but the aborigines of that country taught its use to their Span- 
ish conquerors ; for, among the Creoles and mestizoes of the present day, there are 
many who charge the Paraguayanos with having exterminated their Indian 
slaves by hard labour, in gathering the leaves of this tree. In no country in the 
world is the Chinese tea more extensively drank, in proportion to the population, 
than is the yerba male, throughout a great portion of South America. Large plan- 
tations of it are owned by the Jesuits of Paraguay, who derive a large revenue 
from its harvest, the annual product being estimated at five million six hundred 
thousand pounds, more than thirty thousand of which are carried to Chili, Ecua- 
dor, whence Lima and Quito are supplied, and the remainder is consumed in 
the Argentine and Cisplatine republics. 
This species was introduced into Britain in 1828, and plants are growing in 
the botanic garden at Glasgow, and in the garden of the Horticultural Society of 
London. 
Properties and Uses. The people of South America attribute innumerable 
virtues to this tree ; but most of the qualities ascribed to it are doubtful. It is 
certainly aperient and diuretic, and like opium, produces some singular and con- 
trary effects. It is said to give sleep to the restless, and spirit to the torpid ; and 
like that drug, when a habit is once contracted of using it, it is difficult to leave 
it off; its effect on the constitution being similar to that produced by an immod- 
erate use of spirituous liquors. There are three kinds of the herb in the prepared 
state, though produced by one plant, and are called by the Indians, caa-cuys, 
caa-mini, and caa-guazu ; the prefix caa, signifying the tree or leaf itself. The 
former consists of the half-expanded buds, which will not keep long, and is 
entirely consumed in Paraguay. The caa-mini, is the leaf as prepared by the 
Jesuits, carefully picked and stripped from the nerves before roasting ; while the 
third is made by roasting without any preparation, and is denominated by the 
Spaniards, yerba de pahs. The amount daily gathered by a labourer is usually 
from one hundred to three hundred pounds. In preparing the leaves for market, 
a bundle of long poles is constructed, in the form of a cylindrical vault, under 
which a large fire is made, and upon which the branches are placed, and remain 
there till the leaves are sufficiently dry. After this, the fire is removed ; and on 
the hard and hot platform, after being swept clean, they throw the branches, 
which they give a thorough beating. In this manner the leaves are separated 
from the boughs, which, after being sufficiently manipulated, are next densely 
packed into large bags made of hides ; and in this state, without further prepa- 
ration, they are fit for use ; but they are not considered as seasoned till they are 
a few months old, as the aromatic bitterness which they possess, when newly 
prepared, is partially dissipated by age. The leaves are used by infusions, in 
Paraguay, Uruguay, the Argentine republic, Chili, Peru, and Ecuador, by all 
classes of persons, and at all hours of the day. The Creoles drink the infusion 
