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254
DRINKS.
"
Tea
Is
generally
brought
from
China,
and
groweth
there
upon
little
Shrubs
or
Bushes,
the
Branches
whereof
are
well
garnished
with
white
Flowers
that
are
yellow
within,
of
the
bigness
and
fashion
of
sweet
Brier,
but
smell
unlike,
bearing
thin
green
leaves
about
the
bigness
of
Scordium,
Mirtle, or
Sumack,
and
is
judged
to
be
a
kind
of
Sumack
:
This
Plant
hath
been
reported
to
grow
wild
only,
but
doth
not,
for
they
plant
it
in
their
Gardens
about
four
foot
distance,
and
it
groweth
about
four
foot
high,
and
of
the
Seeds
they
maintain
and
increase
their
Stock.
Of
all
places
in
China
this
Plant
groweth
in
greatest
plenty
in
the
Province
of
Xemsi,
Latitude
36
degrees,
bor-
dering
upon
the
West
of
the
Province
of
Honam,
and
in
the
Province
of
Namking,
near
the
City
of
Lucheu
;
there
is
likewise
of
the
growth
of
Sinam,
Cochin
China,
the
Island
de
Ladrones
and
Japan,
and
is
called
Cha.
Of
this
famous
Leaf
there
are divers
sorts
(though
all
of
one
shape)
some
much
better
than
the
other,
the
upper
Leaves
excelling
the
other
in
fineness,
a
pro-
perty
almost
in
all
Plants,
which
Leaves
they
gather
every
day,
and
drying
them
in
the
shade,
or
in
Iron
pans
over
a
gentle
fire
till
the
humidity
be
exhausted,
then
put
up
close
in
Leaden
pots,
preserve
them
for
their
Drink
Tea,
which
is
used
at
Meals,
and
upon
all
Visits
and
Entertainments
in
private
Families,
and
in
the
Palaces
of
Grandees.
And
it
is
averred
by
a
Padre
of
Macao,
native
oi
Japan,
that
the
best
Tea
ought
not
to
be
gathered
but
by
Virgins
who
are
destined
to
this
work,
and
such
Quce
non
dum
Men-
strua
patiuntur
;
gemmcs
quce
nascuntur
in
summitat^