Chap. XV. TUNG-PO'S DIRECTIONS AND OPINIONS. 271 



" When making an infusion, do not boil the water 

 too hastily, as first it begins to sparkle like crabs' 

 eyes, then somewhat like fish's eyes, and lastly it 

 boils up like pearls innumerable, springing and waving 

 about. This is the way to boil the water." 



The same author gives the names of six different 

 kinds of tea, all of which are in high repute. As 

 their names are rather flowery, I quote them for 

 the reader's amusement. They are these: the "first 

 spring tea," the "white dew," the "coral dew," the 

 "dewy shoots/' the " money shoots," and the "rivulet 

 garden tea." 



"Tea," says he, "is of a cooling nature, and, if 

 drunk too freely, will produce exhaustion and lassi- 

 tude ; country people before drinking it add ginger 

 and salt to counteract this cooling property. It is an 

 exceedingly useful plant ; cultivate it, and the benefit 

 will be widely spread ; drink it, and the animal spirits 

 will be lively and clear. The chief rulers, dukes, and 

 nobility esteem it ; the lower people, the poor and 

 beggarly, will not be destitute of it ; all use it daily, 

 and like it." Another author upon tea says that 

 "drinking it tends to clear away all impurities, drives 

 off drowsiness, removes or prevents headache, and it 

 is universally in high esteem." 



