CLASSIFICATION AND DESCRIPTION. 1 29 



In size and appearance it closely resembles an orange 

 tree, having a whitish bark and leafy, tufted boughs, 

 with leaves four inches long when full grown, dark-green 

 in color, thick, glossy and crenate at the edges, pale on 

 the lower surface and containing the same active princi- 

 ple, Theine, so characteristic of China tea. The flowers 

 or blossoms are small and white, hanging in clusters at 

 the angles of the leaves, the fruit or berries being red, 

 smooth and similar to those of the common holly. So 

 closely does it approach the tea of China in effect, that 

 many authorities claim it to be a species of that plant, 

 yielding a liquor similar in many respects. But while 

 not containing as much volatile oil as the latter, owing 

 to the primitive manner in which it is prepared, it 

 nevertheless yields a most agreeable and refreshing bev- 

 erage, enjoyed by many and forming the staple drink of 

 millions of the inhabitants of Paraguay and other South 

 American countries. 



Expeditions to collect and prepare it start annually 

 from the capital to the Yerbales or groves in the interior, 

 taking extra mules and bullocks to bring the dried leaves 

 back. On reaching the forests Tatacuas or camps are 

 formed by clearing the ground and beating it down with 

 heavy mallets until it is sufficiently hard and level for the 

 purpose. The leaf in the natural state is from four to 

 five inches long, thick, leathery, glossy and serrated at 

 the edges, and is prepared for use in a network made 

 from raw-hide straps stretched on posts, underneath 

 which wood fires are kindled. The leaves and stems, as 

 they are collected, are placed on these nets and scorched, 

 care being taken only that they do not ignite or burn 

 too much in which state they closely resemble senna. 

 When sufficiently scorched they are ground, in some 

 instances, into a coarse powder in a rude wooden mill, 



