TEA. 299 



tection will bear the rigour of our winters 

 even near the metropolis. In its native 

 country this plant delights in valleys, or on 

 the hills that slope to the south, or the banks 

 of rivers. The flowers are white, and equally 

 ornamental with those of the myrtle. The 

 Abbe Rochen says, it grows as well in a poor, 

 as a rich soil ; but that there are certain 

 places where it is of a better quality. The 

 rocky soil produces the best tea, and that of 

 clay the worst. 



To give implicit credit to all that the 

 Chinese affirm of the excellent qualities of 

 the tea leaf woidd argue a degree of credulity 

 equal to that of the Japanese, who believe 

 that Darma, one of their saints, who lived 

 about the 519th year of Christ, was so devout 

 and austere in his religious duties, as to fore 

 necessary rest and sleep. One day, being 

 weary from long watching and fasting, he un- 

 luckily dropped asleep. His sorrow on awak- 

 ing was great for having broken his solemn 

 vow ; and attributing it to his eyebrows, he 

 cut them off, and threw them on the ground 

 with the greatest indignation. Returning 

 the next day to the same place, behold ! 

 from his eye-brows were sprung two beau- 

 tiful tea shrubs ! Darma, eating some of 



