"We are fortunate in being able to procure our tea in exchange for
our useless ginseng," remarked the Lady de Tilly, as she handed the
professor a tiny plate of the leaves, as was the fashion of the day.
After drinking the tea, the infused leaves were regarded as quite a
fashionable delicacy. Except for the fashion, it had not been
perhaps considered a delicacy at all.
The observation of the Lady de Tilly set the professor off on
another branch of the subject. "He had observed," he said, "the
careless methods of preparing the ginseng in New France, and
predicted a speedy end of the traffic, unless it were prepared to
suit the fancy of the fastidious Chinese."
"That is true, Herr Kalm," replied the Governor, "but our Indians
who gather it are bad managers. Our friend Philibert, who opened
this lucrative trade, is alone capable of ensuring its continuance.
It is a mine of wealth to New France, if rightly developed. How
much made you last year by ginseng, Philibert?"
"I can scarcely answer," replied the Bourgeois, hesitating a moment
to mention what might seem like egotism; "but the half million I
contributed towards the war in defence of Acadia was wholly the
product of my export of ginseng to China.
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