Richard Bradley

“ And it is apparently the Opinion of all Physicians who have yet wrote concerning the Plague, That such Bodies whose Spirits are the most overcome by Fear, are the most subject to receive Infections. And again, That the Spirits must be refresh’d only by such Liquors, or Preparations, as will not promote Inflammations. And of this nature, say they, is Coffee, which by a right Use supports the vital Flame, and defends the Body from Pestilential Infection. And as such it is generally recommended, as a necessary Drink, at least twice a day ”

“ PROSPER ALPINUS, a Physician of Venice, in his Book of Egyptian Plants, makes mention of the Tree, and gives us an imperfect Cut of it: He tells us, that he first saw it in a Garden belonging to a Captain of the Janizaries at Grand Cairo, brought from Arabia Felix, and planted there as a great Rarity: It is, saith he, like the Euonymus or Prickle-Timber, but with Leaves thicker, harder, and greener. Of the Fruit (called Buna) the Turks and Arabs make a Decoction or Drink, which they use instead of Wine, and is called Coava. ”

“ I would recommend therefore the roasting of it to every particular Family in England, they being then most secure from having any damaged Berries, or any Art used to increase the Weight, which is very injurious to the Drinkers of Coffee. Most Persons of Distinction in Holland roast their own Berries. ”

“ I SHALL here take occasion to remark, wherein lies the Difference between what we call Turkey and India Coffee, and why the latter has not been esteemed so good as that we receive from Turkey.
THE first of these is bought by the Turks Merchants, who go up into the Country where it grows, and there contract for the Fruit of Gardens, or so many Trees as they have occasion for, (as our Fruit-mongers do for Cherries in Kent.) ”

“ Coffee, says he, is not known{28} to grow naturally in any Part of the World, but only in Arabia Felix, some few Days Journey Inland from Moco, in the Valleys of the Great Mountains, and near the City Saana, about twenty Degrees North-Latitude: The Prince of which, about eighty Years since, beat the Turks in a Battel near that Place, freed himself from their Yoke under which he was before, and made himself Independent as at this Day, permitting great Freedom of Trade to all Nations. ”

“ Dr. COMELIN, Botanick Professor at Amsterdam, in his Lectures on Plants, places this Tree among the Jessamines, and compares the Leaf to that of our common Chesnut; but as that Gentleman has not yet printed any Account of it, I shall not therefore attempt to publish the Name at large, which he has given it. ”

“ But so prudent are its Masters, that on no account will they suffer either Plant or Seed of it to come alive out of their Dominions; taking great care to destroy the germinative Faculty of those Berries they send abroad, and inflicting the most severe Punishments on such as shall attempt the Transportation of any Plants of it. ”

“ He believes it to be that black Broth, which was in use amongst the Lacedemonians.
PARKINSON, in his Theatr. Botanic. pag. 1622. gives us a very indifferent Figure of it, calling the Tree, Arbor Bon, and tells us, the Fruit is somewhat larger than a Hazel-Nut, pointed at the Extremities, and of a greyish Ash-Colour; that each Berry contains two white Seeds, which the Turks make Drink of, and is in great Esteem amongst them. ”

“ It is noted, That the Arabs, and others of the Eastern People, in the Summer-Season, use only a Decoction made of the outside Husks of this Fruit; and in the cooler Seasons make use of the Kernels, esteeming the first to be cooling, and the other to be of a hotter Nature. Veslingius seems to be of their opinion, in his Notes on Alpinus, where he tells us, The Husk and Kernel of this Berry have different Qualities ”

“ P R E F A C E. T this time, when every Nation in Europe is under the melancholy Apprehension of an approaching Plague or Pestilence, I think it the Business of every Man to contribute, to the utmost of his Capacity, such Observations, as may tend to the Service of the Publick. ”

“ IT has been remark’d by several eminent Men, That in the Countries of the East, where this Liquor is drank plentifully, the Inhabitants of those Parts are seldom or never troubled with the Stone, Gout, or Dropsy ”