212 GROWTH <?/ T E A. 
the t, c, h, a, probably called it tea ; tho’ what the jefuit 
contancin, who refided many years at the court of pekin, 
and helped du halde in compofing his hiftory, fays, implys 
its being called at that place by fome name more nearly re- 
fembling t, e, a. — What he fays of a kind of imperial tea fent 
as prefents to the emperor, I fuppofe he means the souchoon, 
and not the byng, which laft we call imperial. His account 
agrees with my information, that the prime fort of bohea is the 
mod; valuable, and that it is difficult to obtain any quantity. 
Indeed the whole account has a great correfpondence with that 
which 1 have given you ; and if we allow it to have any merit 
as to the growth, we may alfo afcribe fome to his account of its 
virtues. But I beg you will obferve, that he tells you the opinion 
of the Chinese, and does not mention a fingle word of any ex- 
periments he, or his friends in china, had made on themfelves 
or others. You may alfo take notice of his intimation, that tea 
ffiould be kept for feveral years, which is feldom done in Europe, 
our confumption being fo great, as not to allow time for it. The 
Chinese value it for its age, as we edeem October beer. — He 
makes no remarks on the effedts which may be naturally expedted 
from tea in different climates : nor in fpeaking of this leaf, does 
he mention a word of the manner in which the Chinese drink it. 
- — As to the red tea, which cures cholics and fluxes, he does 
not tell you that he found it fo, but that the Chinese phydcians 
account it falutary, &c. — What he fays of the feveral plants to 
which the name of tea is given, “ which are nothing like it,” 
confirms me in the opinion, that we impofe upon ourfelves 
' grofsly, with regard to the different kinds and qualities of tea, 
as well as the manner of ufing it : partly ignorant of the in- 
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