300 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



the leaves, was presently filled with new joy 

 and strength to pursue his divine meditations. 

 He immediately communicated to his disci- 

 ples the great benefit he found from tea, 

 which he also published to his countrymen. 

 As the saint was at that time the head of 

 their religious order, being the 28th suc- 

 cessor of the holy seed of Siaka, the founder 

 of their Paganism, we may conclude from this 

 curious fable, that the Japanese have used the 

 tea leaf in their drink upwards of 1300 years. 

 It would be unjust, however, to deny that 

 this plant possesses many of the excellent 

 qualities which the Chinese assign to it ; and 

 we should find it difficult to name another 

 beverage that would have less pernicious ef- 

 fects, when it is considered that it is taken by 

 persons of all habits, and at all seasons of the 

 year ; is generally the first drink in the morn- 

 ing, and often the last in the evening. Cer- 

 tainly neither wine nor beer could be taken 

 with so much impunity. When taken in 

 moderation, as to strength as well as quantity, 

 it is perhaps preferable to any other vege- 

 table infusion hitherto discovered. And when 

 we take into consideration its refreshing qua- 

 lities, and its well-known enlivening powers, 

 we shall be inclined to agree with the ingeni- 



