TEA TREE. 
159 
praise of this infusion, to the following effect : 
“ Put on a moderate fire a three-legged vessel, the 
form and colour of which bespeak long services ; fill 
it with limpid water procured from melted snow ; 
boil it to that degree which is necessary to whiten 
fish, or redden crabs, and immediately pour it over 
the tender leaves of choice tea put into a cup made 
of the earth yuc. Leave it at rest until the vapours, 
which at first rise in abundance, form thick clouds, 
afterwards gradually disappear, at length vanish, 
and leave only some light exhalations floating on 
the surface; then, at leisure, sip this delicious liquor. 
It will effectually dispel those five causes of in- 
quietude that generally assail us and disturb our 
repose. We may taste, we may feel, but we can- 
not express, the soft tranquillity occasioned by a 
liquor prepared in this manner.” 
The Japanese nobility drink the very essence of 
the finest tea, which they extract in the following 
manner: The tea is reduced to a fine powder, by 
grinding the leaves in a hand-mill ; and when the 
tea equipage is introduced, a quantity of this pow- 
der enclosed in a box is set before the company. 
The cups are then filled with boiling water, and as 
much of the powder as will lay on the point of a 
knife is taken out of the box, thrown into each of 
the cups, and stirred with an instrument like a 
tooth-pick till the liquor begins to foam ; in which 
state it is presented to the company, and sipped 
warm. 
The poorer class of people, who drink an inferior 
