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274
DRINKS,
on
which
is
spread
the
boughs
of
the
Ilex,
and
under
which
a
lively
fire
is
kindled,
that
the
leaves
may
be
thoroughly
dried
without
being
scorched.
This
result
being
effected,
the
fire
is
swept
off
the
hearth,
and
the
dried
branches
being
spread
thereon,
the
leaves are
beaten
off
with
sticks,
which
operation
reduces
them
to
a
coarse
powder.
Sometimes
they
are
pounded
in
mortars,
made
by
digging
holes
in
the
ground,
well
rammed
;
but
now-a-days
the
Mate
is
generally
treated
in
a
more
scientific
and
cleanly
manner,
the
leaves
being
heated,
as
tea
in
China,
in
large
iron
pans
set
in
brick
work.
The
dried
leaves
are
then
taken
to
the
Mat6
mill,
which
may
be
worked
by
water
power,
or
by
mules,
the
wooden
stampers
being
worked
by
teeth
placed
spirally
round
the
circumference
of
a
revolving
cylinder,
A
good-sized
mill
will
turn
out
three
tons of
Mate
in
a
day.
The
crushed
leaves
are
then
tightly
packed
in
bags
of
damp
bullock's
hide,
sewn
up and
left
to dry,
when
they
become
as
hard
as
stones.
These
sacks
generally
weigh
from
200
to
220
lbs.,
and
this
quantity
is
considered
a
good
day's
work
for
a
peon.
The
collectors
suffer
terribly
during
this
six
months
of
forest
life,
and
the
severe
labour
of
collecting,
in
those
tropical
forests,
is
especi-
ally
fatal
to
the
unfortunate
peons.
Its
use
is
as
universal
as
tea
in
China.
The
method
of
taking
it
has
not
varied
for
centuries
and
a
description
of
it
in
1713^
is
as
good
as
if
written
to-day.
1
Relation
du
voyage
de
la
M(r
du
Si^d,
aux
cotes
du
Chily,
et
du
Perou^
fait
pendant^
les
c<n
e<:s
1712.
13,
14,
par
Aiiiedee
Francois
Frezier.
Fa?
is,
1716,
4^.