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.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 130 of 377
Words from 38037 to 38341
of 110081
