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I02
THE FLOWING BOWL
called " pale-punts," why or wherefore deponent
sayeth not; here is the extract from a work pub
lished A.D. 1691 ;—
" Pale-punts, here vulgarly known by the
name of Punch ; a drink compounded of brandy
or aqua
juice of lemons, oranges, sugar, or
such like ; very usual amongst those that frequent
the sea, where a bowl of punch is an usual
beverage."
But it was " usual" only in the days of sailing-
ships and long voyages ; and with fast steamers
and whole evenings devoted to the beauties of
poker, or selling pools, a more usual modern
maritime drink is a modicum of whisky diluted
with aerated water.
"The liquor called Punch," writes another
professional authority, "has become so truly
English, it is often supposed to be indigenous to
this country, though its name at least is Oriental.
The Persian punj^ or Sanscrit pancha^ i.e. five
(vide Fryer's Travels)^ is the etymon of its title,
and denotes the number of ingredients of which
it is composed.
Addison's 'fox-hunter,' who
testified so much surprise when he found that of
the materials of which this ' truly English'
beverage was made only the water belonged to
England, would have been still more astonished
had his informant also told him that it derived
even its name from the East."
But did natives of the East drink it? Tell
me that.
"Various opinions are entertained respecting
this compound drink. Some authors praise it as
a cooling and refreshing beverage, when drunk