"This Plant, however, seems neither to have been long known, nor long used, among the _Chinese_, since they have no hieroglyphical Characters, such as most of their Letters are, which express its Nature and Qualities. These two Nations also differ widely, with respect to the Manner of using _Tea_; since the _Japonese_ mix the _Tea_, powdered in a Marble Mortar, with warm Water: Whereas, the _Chinese_, boil the Plant itself with some Liquor, adding a few Grains of Salt, or Sugar. This Decoction, they drink with their Friends and Visitors; and even their leading Men do not think it beneath them, but rather a Piece of Honour to prepare the _Tea_ for their Guests; for which Purpose they have Closets in their Palaces, fitted up on purpose, in which they keep their Pots, Tripods, Tunnels, Cups, Spoons, and other _Tea_ Utensils, which they buy at an exorbitant Price, preserve in Silk, and only use when their best Friends visit them. These, they esteem as much as we do Adamants, Gems, and the most precious Stones. See _Joh. Maffæus_, _Rer. Indicar. Lib. 6. & 12._ _Ludovic_, _Almeid. Select. Epist. Lib. 4._ _Petr. Garric. Tom. 2. Lib. 2. Cap. 17._ _Matth. Ricius, de Christ. Expedit. apud Sinas, Lib. 1. Cap. 7._ _Alois Frois, in Relat. Japon. Jac. Bontius, Dialog. 6._ _Med. Indorum, & Johan. Linseot, Cap. 26._" _Nicolaus Trigautius_, in _Tractat. de Regno Chinæ, Cap. 3._ where he treats of the Things produced in _China_, gives us the following Particulars, with respect to _Tea_: "I purposely, says he, omit the Description of many Things necessary, such as Marbles of different Colours, Carbuncles, and other Stones and Gems, not unfit for painting; odoriferous Woods, Bitumens, and an incredible Number of other Curiosities; but I neither can, nor ought to pass over, in Silence, two or three Things, unknown to the _Europeans_; the first of which is, that Shrub, of the Leaves of which is prepared that celebrated Liquor, called _Cia_, by the _Chinese_, _Japonese_, and neighbouring Countries. It is not possible, that the Herb from which this is prepared has been very long used by the _Chinese_; since, in order to represent it, they have no hieroglyphical Characters, such as all their Letters are. Hence it may, perhaps, be suspected, that our _European_ Woods produce this Herb. They gather the Leaves in the _Spring_, dry them in a Shade, and keep them for preparing a Decoction, which they almost continually use, not only at their Meals, but also when their Friends come to visit them; for this is generally the Entertainment to which they invite each other. It is always drank, or rather sipped warm; nor is it ungrateful to the Palate, in consequence of its temperate Bitterness; but it is very salutary, and frequently used for various Disorders. _Tea_ is not with them all of one Price; since, sometimes, a Pound is sold for a Noble, and, at other Times, for two or three, if it is accounted good: The best of the _Japonese Tea_ is often sold