288 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



tea was held by the Europeans of that day. 

 In writing on the plants of China, he ob- 

 serves, " There is the plant called Cha, which, 

 not being able to contain itself within the 

 bounds of China, hath insinuated itself into 

 Europe : it aboundeth in divers regions of 

 China, and there is great difference, but 

 the best and most choice is in the Province 

 Kingnan, in the territory of the city Hoci- 

 cheu. The leaf being boiled and infused in 

 water, they drink it hot as often as they 

 please : it is of a diuretic faculty, much forti- 

 fies the stomach, exhilarates the spirits, and 

 wonderfully openeth all the nephritick pas- 

 sages or reins; it freeth the head by suppress- 

 ing of fuliginous vapours, so that it is a most 

 excellent drink for studious and sedentary 

 persons, to quicken them in their operations ; 

 and though, at the first, it seemeth insipid 

 and bitter, yet custom maketh it pleasant; and 

 though the Turkish coffee administer the 

 like cordiality, and the Mexican chocolate be 

 another excellent drink, yet tea, if the best, 

 very much excelleth them both, because, that 

 chocolate in hot seasons inflameth more than 

 ordinary, and coffee agitateth choler ; but tea 

 in all seasons hath one and the same effect." 

 We have been able to trace back the use 



