to the Refledtions of the Reader. ^ The moft common Opi- 
^ nion, fays he, is, that Coffee has not been known in the 
^ World above two hundred Years, which is fo much the more 
‘ probable, in that we find it no where mention’d either in the 
^ Greek or Latin Authors. I lliould therefore undoubtedly be of 
the fame mind, did not the Turks and Arahiansy whom I have 
^ talk’d to about this Matter, abfolutely rejed: it. As they are 
^ perfuaded, that they never were without the Ufe of Tobacco, 
^ fo they believe they have drank Coffee in all Ages. I own I 
‘ never could hear them give any other Reafon for this Affertion, 
^ but that it is a Cuftom of which they do not know the be- 
^ ginning j an Argument which, tho’ it be not altogether decifive, 
^ yet ought not altogether to be defpis’d : It is indeed a great Pre- 
fumption againft the Antiquity of a Cuftom, that we find no 
^ Footfteps of it in ancient Monuments ^ but ftill it is no fmall 
^ Argument againft the Novelty of it, that the time and manner 
‘ of its beginning cannot be aftign’d. 
‘ Tho’ the Ufe of Coffee might be unknown to both Grecians 
^ and Romans, it will not from thence follow, that it was fo all 
‘ over the World. The Arabians were, during thefe times, lit- 
‘ tie better than Savages and Barbarians, and therefore it was very 
^ unlikely that the polite Greeks and Romans fhould think of in- 
^ quiring into the Liquors they us’d, much lefs of borrowing one 
‘ from them which every body has an Averfion to at firft drink- 
^ ing, and to the bitter Tafte of which long Cuftom only recon- 
‘ dies them. But it is neverthelefs very eafy to conceive how, in 
^ procefs of time. Coffee came to fpread all over the Eaft. The 
^ Arabians having by Mahomet and the Alcoran made themfelves, 
^ Mafters of both Ajia and Africa, were then in a Condition to 
‘ eftablifh all their Cuftoms, and among the reft that of drinking 
^ Coffee, fb univerfal among themfelves : And as their Religion 
^ did not allow them the Ufe of Wine and other fermented Li- 
^ quors, nothing could have been thought of fo proper for their 
* Purpofe as Coffee. 
It is in vain to objed: here upon the Authority of (ome-French 
^ Writers, that Coffee has not been known in Turkey above two 
^ hundred Years j for in the firft place I deny the Fad on the 
‘ Authority of the Turks themfelves j and in the next place Coffee 
‘ might be in ufe among the Egyptians and other Eaftern People, 
^ without being known to the Greeks, whofe Enmity to the Sa- 
^ racens was too great, for them to learn any of their Cuftoms : 
^ Now Greek Empire fubfifted to the Year 1453, and till 
‘ then. 
