I Shall Speak First Of The Nature Of This Plant,
And Afterwards Account For The Different Sorts.
This Yaupon,
call'd by the South-Carolina Indians, Cassena, is a Bush,
that grows chiefly on the Sand-Banks and Islands, bordering on
the Sea of Carolina; on this Coast it is plentifully found,
and in no other Place that I know of.
It grows the most like Box,
of any Vegetable that I know, being very like it in Leaf,
only dented exactly like Tea, but the Leaf somewhat fatter.
I cannot say, whether it bears any Flower, but a Berry it does,
about the Bigness of a Grain of Pepper, being first red, then brown when ripe,
which is in December; Some of these Bushes grow to be twelve Foot high,
others are three or four. The Wood thereof is brittle as Myrtle,
and affords a light ash-colour'd Bark. There is sometimes found of it
in Swamps and rich low Grounds, which has the same figured Leaf,
only it is larger, and of a deeper Green; This may be occasion'd
by the Richness that attends the low Grounds thus situated.
The third Sort has the same kind of Leaf, but never grows a Foot high,
and is found both in rich, low Land, and on the Sand-Hills.
I don't know that ever I found any Seed, or Berries on the dwarfish Sort,
yet I find no Difference in Taste, when Infusion is made: Cattle and Sheep
delight in this Plant very much, and so do the Deer, all which
crop it very short, and browze thereon, wheresoever they meet with it.
I have transplanted the Sand-Bank and dwarfish Yaupon,
and find that the first Year, the Shrubs stood at a stand;
but the second Year they throve as well as in their native Soil.
This Plant is the Indian Tea, us'd and approv'd by all the Savages
on the Coast of Carolina, and from them sent to the Westward Indians,
and sold at a considerable Price. {Curing the Yaupon.}
All which they cure after the same way, as they do for themselves;
which is thus: They take this Plant (not only the Leaves,
but the smaller Twigs along with them) and bruise it in a Mortar,
till it becomes blackish, the Leaf being wholly defaced:
Then they take it out, put it into one of their earthen Pots
which is over the Fire, till it smoaks; stirring it all the time,
till it is cur'd. Others take it, after it is bruis'd,
and put it into a Bowl, to which they put live Coals, and cover them
with the Yaupon, till they have done smoaking, often turning them over.
After all, they spread it upon their Mats, and dry it in the Sun
to keep for Use. The Spaniards in New-Spain have this Plant
very plentifully on the Coast of Florida, and hold it in great Esteem.
Sometimes they cure it as the Indians do; or else beat it to a Powder,
so mix it, as Coffee; yet before they drink it, they filter the same.
They prefer it above all Liquids, to drink with Physick, to carry the same
safely and speedily thro' the Passages, for which it is admirable,
as I myself have experimented.
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