210 
GROWTH of TEA. 
temples, houfes, and hermitages of the bonzes, which attract 
a great concourfe of people. 
With a defign to make this mountain pafs for the abode of 
fuperior beings, they have conveyed barks, chariots, and other 
things, into the clefts of the fteepeft rocks, all along the fide 
of a rivulet that divides it in two ; infomuch, that thefe fanta- 
fiical ornaments are looked upon by the vulgar, as a real pro- 
digy ; for they fuppofe, that it mud: be a power more than hu- 
man, that has fixed them in thefe inacceffable places. 
The foil of this mountain, that produces this plant, is light, 
whitifh, and fandy. The only difference between the leaf of 
bohea tea and green, is, that the latter are more long and fharp- 
pointed : the decodion of the latter is green, and experience 
difcovers it to be much more apt to create a cholicy dis- 
order *. On the contrary, the leaves of the bohea are fhorter, 
and more round, of a color a little blackifh, and yield a yellow 
tindure*. The tafte of bohea is very frnooth, and the decoc- 
tion inoffenfive to the weakeft ftomach : for this reafon, this 
bohea tea is the moft fought after, and ufed by the whole em- 
pire. However, it muft be obferved, that of this kind there 
are three forts. 
The first is the tender leaf of the fhrub when newly plant- 
edT this is feldom expofed to fale, but ferves to make presents 
of, and to fend to the emperor. It is a kind of imperial tea, 
and is valued at about two shillings a pound (english money). 
The second confifis of leaves fuller grown, and this is counted 
a 
* The tranfiator calls it a raking. * He feems here to fpeak of the prime fort 
of bohea. 
