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Mate

The Paraguay tea-plant or mate is a native of the New World, and in some parts of South America is used as extensively for making a hot infusion as tea and coffee are with us. It is a shrub which attains to about the size of an orange-tree, and grows wild in the forests of Paraguay and Brazil. The work of collecting and preparing the leaves of this plant for use is performed by the native Indians; it is said that upwards of five million pounds of the mate-leaves are annually gathered in Paraguay alone. The preparation of this tea is by no means so carefully gone about as that of Chinese tea. At certain seasons of the year the natives penetrate the forest, and having selected a tree, cut off with a hatchet its principal branches. When a sufficient number of branches are cut down, they are placed on hurdles. A wood fire is then kindled, and when the flames have ceased to ascend, the hurdles are placed upon it. The branches are allowed to remain on the hurdles till they are dried. They are then removed from the fire, and a clean hard floor being made on some spot of ground, they are strewn upon it and beaten well with sticks. In this way the dried leaves and smaller branches are reduced almost to a powder, which is usually placed in bullock-hides. These, being sewed up, the tea is ready for exportation. During the packing, however, a selection is made, and three sorts of mate are known in the market. Mate is the universal drink of the natives of South America, who are among the healthiest and hardiest people in the world. They drink from ten to twelve cups daily of this beverage, and with scarcely any food they will travel immense distances and perform arduous labour with no signs of fatigue. As it contains almost no tannin it can be drunk by people who cannot take ordinary tea, and is, in fact, extensively used as a cure for dyspepsia and nervous complaints. It also acts beneficially upon the biliary and excretory organs, and persons who are subject to rheumatism, gout, or diabetes derive great benefit from drinking it. It is, unfortunately, difficult to procure in this country.