The Bourgeois Philibert had exported largely to China the newly
discovered ginseng, for which at first the people of the flowery
kingdom paid, in their sycee silver, ounce for ounce. And his
Cantonese correspondent esteemed himself doubly fortunate when he
was enabled to export his choicest teas to New France in exchange
for the precious root.
Amelie listened to an eager conversation between the Governor and
Herr Kalm, started by the latter on the nature, culture, and use of
the tea-plant,--they would be trite opinions now,--with many daring
speculations on the ultimate conquest of the tea-cup over the wine-
cup. "It would inaugurate the third beatitude!" exclaimed the
philosopher, pressing together the tips of the fingers of both
hands, "and the 'meek would inherit the earth;'" so soon as the use
of tea became universal, mankind would grow milder, as their blood
was purified from the fiery products of the still and the wine-
press! The life of man would be prolonged and made more valuable.
"What has given China four thousand of years of existence?" asked
Herr Kaim, abruptly, of the Count.
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