NATURAL HISTORV, 
363 
TEA SHRUB. 
he tea ilirub grows plentifully In feve- 
ral parts of the Ealt-Indies, and affords a leaf 
Xvhich is too well known, according to the 
opinion of our phyficians, in every country 
in Europe. It is brought from China, Ja- 
pan, and Siam. The leaves are gathered m 
the fpring ; and bear a flower of five leaves, 
tefenibling a rofe ; to thefe fucceed a cod, 
like a hazle-nut. The tea Ihrub flounflies 
equally in rich and poor ground. I he l^^y^s 
are dried and parched by fire ; in which 
fiate they are fent to Europe, and othei: 
parts of the world. The beft tea is that 
which is the greenefl, belt feented, and mo t 
free from dull. 1 he caufe of ^ tea being o 
much drunk in Europe, is faid to be 
the Chinefe bartering it for their fage, which 
they elteem as poffeffing the molt invaluab.e 
qualities. This is not improbable, from our 
phyficians having a Latin proverb, refpcaing 
fage of virtue ; which afks, why will a man 
die with fage in his garden ? Although tea 
is drunk more for plealure than for any me- 
dicinal purpofe, it isjufily allowed to poflels 
tnany falutary qualities. 
COCOA- 
