OF THE TEA TREE IN CHINA. 



opinion in Europe, and some even in China. After 

 eulogising its fragrance and flavour, lie observes — 

 " It tempers the spirits, and harmonises the mind : 

 dispels lassitude, and relieves fatigue : awakens 

 thought, and prevents drowsiness : lightens or re- 

 freshes the body, and clears the perceptive facul- 

 ties." Again, in the allegory alluded to, one of 

 the emperors of the Han dynasty is made to say, 

 " The use of it grows upon me surprisingly : I know 

 not how it is, but my fancy is awakened and my 

 spirits exhilarated as if with wine." The learned 

 author Lo-yu then proceeds to state, that — " All tea 

 is gathered in the second, third, and fourth moons. 

 The leaves must not be gathered in rainy, or even 

 in cloudy weather, but when it is fair and clear. 

 Bruise and pat them with the hands ; roast them 

 over a fire {poey) ; pack and close them up. In 

 this manner tea is prepared ; and there are a thou- 

 sand and ten thousand different kinds." Then 

 follow other remarks and frivolous comparisons 

 not very intelligible — at least to me. It is 

 obvious, from the preceding account, that the 

 Chinese were well acquainted with tea at this pe- 

 riod ; and we also find from other authorities that 

 during the reign of Te Tsong, in the same dynasty, 

 the consumption of tea was already so considerable 

 as to attract the notice of government as an advan- 

 tageous subject for impost. It is stated as a matter 

 of history in the Kaung-moo, an abridged history of 



B 3 



