92 CHINA. 



naked trunk. It is bushy like a i'ose-tree,and the expanded petals of 

 the flo\ver bear some resemblance to that of the rose. Every infor- 

 mation received concerning the tea-plani concurred in affirming that 

 its quafitie s depended both upon the soil in which it grew, and the age- 

 at which the leaves were plucked off the tree, as well as upon the man- 

 agement of them afterwards. The largest and oldest leaves, which 

 are the least esteemed, and destined for the use of the lowest classes 

 of the people, are often exposed to sale with little previous manipu- 

 lation, and still retaining that kind of vegetable taste which is common, 

 to most fresh plants, but which vanishes in a little time, whilst the 

 more essential flavour, characteristic of each particular vegetable, re- 

 mains long without diminution. The young leaves undergo no incon- 

 siderable preparation before they are delivered to the purchaser. 

 Every leaf passes through the fingers of a female, who rolls it up al- 

 most to the form it had assumed before it became expanded in the pro- 

 gress of its growth. It is afterwards placed upon thin plates of earth- 

 en-ware or iron, made much thinner than can be executed by artists 

 out of China. It is confidently said, in the country, that no plates of 

 copper are ever employed for that purpose. Indeed, scarcely any 

 utensil used in China is of that metal, the chief application of which 

 is for coin. The earthen or iron plates are placed over a charcoal 

 fire, which draws all remaining moisture from the leaves, rendering 

 thern dry and crisp. The colour and astringency of green tea is thought 

 to be derived from the early period at which the leaves are plucked, 

 and which, like unripe fruit, are generally green and acrid. 



The Portuguese had the use of tea long before the English; but 

 it was introduced among the latter before the restoration, as mention 

 is made of it in the first act of parliament that settled the excise on 

 the king for life, in 1660. Catharine of Lisbon, wife to Charles II, 

 rendered the use of it common at his court. The ginseng, so famous 

 among the Chinese as the universal remedy, and monopolised even 

 by their emperors, is now found to be but a common root, and is 

 plentiful in North America. When brought to Europe, it is little 

 distinguished for its healing qualities ; and this instance alone ought 

 to teach us with what caution the former accounts of China are to be 

 read. The ginseng, however, is a native of the Chinese Tartary. 



Animals. ...The lion, according to Du Halde, is not found in China, 

 but there are tigers, rhinoceroses, bears, buffaloes, and wild boars. 

 A (very small breed of camels, some of which are not higher than 

 horses, is found here. There are also several species of deer, among 

 which the musk deer is a singular animal, which is likewise a na- 

 tive of Tibet. 



Curiosities, natural and artificial. ...Few natural curiosities 

 present themselves in China, that have not been comprehended under 

 preceding articles. Some volcanoes, and rivers and lakes of parti- 

 cular qualities, are to be found in different parts of the empire. The 

 volcano of Linesung is said sometimes to make so furious a discharge 

 of fire and ashes, as to occasion a tempest in the air ; and some of 

 their lakes are said to petrify fishes when put into them. 



The artificial mountains present, on their tops, temples, monaste- 

 ries, and other edifices. The Chinese bridges cannot be sufficiently 

 admired ; they are built sometimes upon barges strongly chained 

 together, yet so as to be parted, and to let the vessels pass that sail up 

 and down the river. Some of them run from mountain to mountain, 

 srnd consist only of one arch ; that over the river Saffrany is four 



