137 



The following additions, to the various departments during 

 the year past, may be specified. 



To the Historical Department. Cup and tube used for 

 drinking the Mate or Paraguay tea (^llex Paraguay ensis^ with 

 a specimen of the plant in a pulverized state. These articles 

 were brought from Buenos Ayres and presented by Charles A. 

 Ropes, 



This plant furnishes a favorite beverage throughout a large 

 portion of South America. It was not until about 1822 that 

 any thing was known respecting its particular genus and spe- 

 cies. The dried leaves which were used, were called Mate, 

 from the name of the cup from which the tea was drank. St. 

 HiLiARE, in the 9th vol. of the Memoires d'Histoire Naturelle, 

 pronounced the shrub from personal observation to be a verita- 

 ble holly {Ilex.) Sir W. J. Hooker figured the plant in his 

 London Journal of Botany, Vol. I., Tab. I., from specimens 

 direct from Paraguay and from the London Horticultural So- 

 ciety's collections. Mr. Gardner gathered it afterwards in the 

 Organ mountains, Brazil, where the prepared leaves are called 

 Co7igonha. 



The specimen presented us is in a pulverized state, as it is 

 used for preparing the drink. The leaves are first slightly 

 scorched by passing the branches, freshly gathered from the 

 woods, through the flame of fire. They are then roasted and 

 broken down as we see them ; and are also subjected to a 

 strong pressure, to improve the flavor by keeping. 



The Mate is drunk at every meal and at every hour of the 

 day. A handful of the pounded foliage is infused in the cup, 

 and the liquid is sucked hot through a tube, termed Bombilla, 

 famished at its closed lower end with perforations to prevent 

 the escape of the soaked leaves. Three steepings may be made 

 with the quantity employed ; and each time the liquor is im- 

 mediately drank before it becomes as black as ink. The cup 

 is of various shapes and material, sometimes it is very rich in 

 design and workmanship. 



Indian head dress from Para, Brazils, by Benjamin Upton. 



ESSEX INST. PROCEED. 18. 



