THE HOLLY. 



71 



from the jaguars and noxious reptiles which 

 swarm in the forests. When they come to a 

 Yerbal or forest of Mate-trees sufficiently large 

 to make it worth their while to halt and collect 

 the leaves, they begin by constructing a long 

 line of wigwams covered with the broad leaves 

 of the Banana and Palm, beneath the shade of 

 w^hich they expect to pass nearly six months. 

 The next process is to prepare the piece of 

 ground on which the small branches, twigs, and 

 leaves of the Yerba are first scorched. The soil 

 is beaten with heavy mallets, till it becomes hard 

 and smooth. When this task is accomplished, the 

 cutters disperse singly through the woods, and 

 return laden with as many branches as they can 

 carry. The leaves, when thoroughly dried, are 

 carried to the prepared ground, and placed on 

 a kind of arch made of hurdles. A large fire 

 is kept up beneath, and the foliage is thoroughly 

 scorched without being suffered to ignite ; after 

 which the dry platform is swept clean, and the 

 leaves are beaten off the branches by means 

 of sticks, and reduced nearly to powder. Re- 

 cently, there has been substituted for this part 

 of the human labour a rude mill, in which the 

 scorched foliage and slender twigs are together 

 ground to powder, thus completing the process, 

 and rendering the Paraguay Tea fit for use. It is 

 then conveyed to a large shed, where it is received, 

 weighed, and stored, by the overseer. 



The operation of packing is the most laborious 

 part; this is effected by cramming and beating 

 into a bull's hide, which is damped, and fixed 

 firmly into the ground, the greatest possible quan- 

 tity of the pulverized Mate. From 200 to 300 



