[104] Much has been written on the comparative merits of wine and beer. Perhaps as good a remark as any on this subject was made by a modern tradesman who, wishing to sell both, explained that, while strongly advocating the introduction of wine, he did not at all intend to depreciate the merits of our national beverage, beer. Where, he continued, plenty of out-door exercise is taken, and little intellectual effort is demanded, good beer is perhaps the most wholesome of all drinks; and therefore he advised the “labouring man,” who could not probably afford to buy wine, to drink beer, while others, who might be supposed able to afford wine, were warned that they could not drink beer with impunity. [105] The world has little altered since the time of Martial (i. 19). “_scelus est jugulare Falernum,_ _Et dare Campano toxica sæva mero._” [106] This is the sweet potato, introduced into Europe before the common potato. [107] For an interesting account of this, vid., Dr., Charnock’s _Verba Nominalia_. [108] _Beajus_, which in Malay signifies a wild man. [109] Roggewein’s _Voyage Round the World_. [110] According to Kotzebue, old women chew, as in the South American _chica_—let us hope this cannot be correct—and little girls spit on it to thin the paste. Kotzebue’s _New Voyage Round the World_, vol. ii., p. 170. [111] From the old French _Pallir_, to become vapid, lose spirit. Washy stuff. [112] See second part of _Westminster Drollery_, 1672. [113] General Monk’s receipt is given in the _Harleian Miscellany_, i., 524. London, 1744. [114] “Mum’s the word,” etc. [115] _Der Bierbrauer_, Prag., 1874. [116] Hamilton’s _Account of Nepaul_. [117] Pinckard’s _Notes_, p. 429. [118] Robertson’s _History of America_, ii., 7. [119] This is the beverage in general use. Titsingh’s _Japan_. Some writers have connected it with our “_sack_.” [120] When cold, it is said to produce _serki_, a species of fatal colic. [121] For this list we are indebted to the courtesy of Messrs. Gow, Wilson & Stanton, 13, Rood Lane, London, E.C. [122] Messrs. William, James & Henry Thompson, 38, Mincing Lane London. [123] Messrs. Gow, Wilson & Stanton. [124] In September, 1890, a small parcel of Flowering Pekoe fetched, at public sale, 36_s._ per lb., and this price has been largely exceeded on former occasions. “A parcel of tea from the Oriental Bank Estates Company’s Havilland Estate in Ceylon was sold at auction in Mincing Lane yesterday for £17 per lb., or over one guinea an ounce.”—_Standard_, May 6th, 1891. “A small lot of Golden Tip Ceylon tea from the Gartmore Estate was sold by auction in Mincing Lane yesterday to the Mazawattee Ceylon Tea Company at £25 _10s._ per lb.”—_Standard_, May 8th, 1891. [125] Messrs. Wm. Jas. and Hy. Thompson. [126] _Joannis Petri Maffeii Bergomatis, e Societate Jesu, Historiarum Indicarum_, etc. _Florentiæ_, 1588.