l6’o 
TEA TREE. 
tea, prepare their infusion in a different manner* 
They make use of this liquor for their common 
beverage, and we seldom see a picture, in which 
any labourers are represented, without the tea equi- 
page as an accompaniment. The first thing in the 
morning, even before sun-rise, the Japanese peasant 
places his kettle of water over the fire, and puts 
into it two, three, or four handfuls of the Bantsjaa 
tea leaves, according to the number of his family. 
It should be noticed that a small basket is pre- 
viously sunk in the kettle, that the leaves may be 
readily drawn out again when their virtue is ex- 
tracted. Where this basket is wanting, it is com- 
mon with them to enclose the tea in a bag. The 
kettle is generally large enough to serve the family 
for the day, and they apply to it whenever they feel 
inclined, drawing up the liquor with a little cup 
which they keep for the purpose. 
The art of making tea in a graceful manner is 
considered of so much consequence in Japan, that 
the young people of both sexes are taught by pro- 
fessors, who make it their business to instruct them, 
in the same manner as an European would be 
taught any branch of polite education. 
The poor people, particularly in the province of 
Nara, sometimes boil their rice, which is their com- 
mon food, in an infusion of tea, which, they believe, 
increases its nutritive quality. 
According to Bomare, the nobility in China use 
an extract of tea, and likewise pastils of tea, aro- 
matized, which are of an agreeable flavour. When 
