,illustration3 ,bulletin #ad1 ,division of ,botany1 ,u4 ,s4 ,dept4 of ,agriculture4 ,,plate #a4 ,,ilex ,,cassine4 ,u4 ,s4 ,,department ,,of ,,agriculture4 ,,division ,,of ,,botany4 ,,bulletin ,no4 #ad4 ,,ilex ,,cassine1 ,,the ,,aboriginal ,,north ,,american ,,tea4 ,,its ,,history1 ,,distribution1 ,,and ,,use ,,among ,,the ,,native ,,north ,,american ,,indians4 ,,by ,e4 ,m4 ,,hale1 ,m4 ,d4 ,,published ,,by ,,authority ,,of ,,the ,,secretary ,,of ,,agriculture4 ,,washington3 ,,government ,,printing ,,office4 #ahia4 ,,letter ,,of ,,transmittal4 ,,september1 #ahia4 ,,sir3 ,i have the honor of presenting for publication the accompanying paper on the history1 distribution1 and uses of ,ilex cassine1 commonly called youpon1 a shrub belonging to the southern and southeastern parts of the ,united ,states4 ,dr4 ,e4 ,m4 ,hale1 the author1 has made a thorough examination of the scattered information which is to be found on the subject4 ,in my opinion it is well to publish this paper1 in order to perpetuate in a concise form the recorded facts concerning the economic and ceremonial uses of this plant among the ,north ,american ,indians4 ,the leaves are now used to a limited extent among the ,southern people1 and possibly their use may be somewhat extended4 ,it seems that the detection of caffeine in the leaves of this ,ilex rests upon the chemical analysis of ,professor ,venable1 of the ,university of ,north ,carolina4 ,i am not aware that any analysis has been made by others4 ,,geo4 ,,vasey1 ,botanist4 ,,hon4 ,j4 ,m4 ,,rusk1 ,secretary of ,agriculture4 ,,preface4 ,several years ago1 when reading that delightful narrative1 by the younger ,bartram1 relating to his travels in ,florida1 ,i was much interested in his mention of the ,ilex cassine1 and the decoction made from it1 called the 8black drink10 in use among the ,creeks and other aborigines of the ,atlantic and ,gulf coasts4 ,my curiosity led me to investigate the subject1 and ,i was surprised to find so little written about it4 ,i have consulted all the works in which there are any allusions to the ,ilex cassine1 and the results of this research are embodied in this bulletin4 ,i must acknowledge the kind assistance and encouragement of many eminent men2 among whom are ,dr4 ,george ,vasey1 ,dr4 ,a4 ,w4 ,chapman1 ,albert ,s4 ,gatschet1 ,dr4 ,daniel ,g4 ,brinton1 ,horatio ,hale1 and ,prof4 ,f4 ,p4 ,venable4 ,i hope this imperfect paper may stimulate others to further investigations of this indigenous analogue of tea and coffee4 ,,edwin ,m4 ,,hale1 ,m4 ,d4 ,no4 #bbjj ,prairie ,avenue1 ,chicago1 ,ill4 ,,ilex ,,cassine1 ,,the ,,aboriginal ,,north ,,american ,,tea4 ,,edwin ,m4 ,,hale1 ,m4 ,d41 ,chicago4 ,there is a shrub or small tree1 a species of holly 7,ilex cassine71 growing in the ,southern ,states along the seacoast1 not extending inland more than #bj or #cj miles1 from ,virginia to the ,rio ,grande4 ,its leaves and tender branches were once used by the aboriginal tribes of the ,united ,states in the same manner as the ,chinese use tea and the ,south ,americans use mat4 ,but while the use of ,thea sinensis and ,ilex paraguayensis still survives1 the use of the shrub above mentioned has been almost abandoned by our native ,indians and by the white people who once partially adopted it as a beverage4 ,the reason for its disuse is hard to discover1 for1 in common with the tea and mat1 it contains caffeine1 or a similar alkaloid4 ,the object of this paper is to examine its history1 to suggest its restoration to a place among the stimulant beverages1 and inquire into its possible economic value4 ,i have been able to trace its use as a beverage back to the legendary migration of the ,creeks from their supposed far western home to the seacoast of the ,carolinas4 ,whether it was used by the prehistoric mound-builders is a question which may not at present be solved4 ,but some archologist of the future may find in the remains of the mound-builders or their predecessors proof of its use among them4#a ,,botany ,,of ,,cassine4 ,before tracing the history of the cassine from the earliest historic period down to the present1 a few botanical notes relating to the genus ,ilex are appropriate4 ,according to ,bentham and ,hooker in their 8,genera ,plantarum10 this genus contains about #ade species1 mostly natives of ,central and ,south ,america1 but some belonging to the southern portions of ,north ,america2 others to the central and tropical parts of the ,eastern ,hemisphere2 and a few to ,africa and ,australia4#b ,the question whether any other species than the ,i4 cassine contains an alkaloid analogous to caffeine has not been investigated4 ,it is also a question whether any of the allied species1 such as those of the sections ,prinoides and ,prinos1 contain a constituent which would enable them to be a substitute for the cassine4#c ,chapman1 in his 8,botany of the ,southern ,states10 enumerates three principal species of the genus ,ilex1 and one variety1 namely1 ,ilex opaca 7common holly71 ,ilex dahoon 7dahoon holly71 and ,ilex cassine1 sometimes called 8,ilex vomitorea40 ,the one variety is the ,ilex myrtifolia 7myrtle-leaved holly74 ,he mentions three species of the section ,prinoides and four of ,prinos4 ,the habitat of all the species1 except the ,i4 cassine1 extends from the seacoast inland in swamps1 along river courses1 and low pine lands4 ,in fact1 no mention is made of their occupying the light sandy soil close to the seacoast4 ,rev4 ,e4 ,c4 ,reinke writes from ,fairfield1 ,island of ,jamaica1 that there are four species of ,ilex on the island1 viz1 ,i4 obcordata1 ,i4 occidentalis1 ,i4 dica1 ,i4 montana4 ,most of these are found on the ,blue ,mountains1 #e1jjj feet above the level of the sea4 ,he could not ascertain that any use whatever was made of the leaves or berries either on the island or anywhere in the ,west ,indies4 ,as the aborigines of the ,west ,india ,islands are all extinct1 or nearly so1 it is not strange that no present use is made of the ,ilex4 ,it is probable that none of these species contains any such active constituents as the ,i4 cassine4 ,dr4 ,chapman1 in a recent letter1 says3 8,the ,i4 cassine grows along the whole east and west coast of ,florida1 and on the shores of the ,gulf and in ,texas1 if the ,orcophiles 7,scheele7 is the same1 as is possible40 ,john ,m4 ,coulter 7,contributions ,u4 ,s4 ,national ,herbarium1 vol4 ,,ii1 ,no4 #a1 ,texas7 mentions that the ,ilex cassine yaupon 8extends into ,texas to the valley of the ,colorado40 ,this would imply that it is not found farther westward than the mouth of the ,colorado ,river1 which is at ,matagorda ,bay1 about halfway from the ,louisiana line to the ,rio ,grande4 ,in a recent pamphlet on the extinct coast ,indians of ,texas1 the ,karankawas1 ,gatschet mentions their use of the cassine4 ,they gathered it 8in the woods1 not on the coast line10 but probably not beyond the tide water of the rivers4 ,these ,indians lived on the coast from the ,colorado ,river to the ,rio ,grande1 so it must be found as far as the latter river4 ,possibly its habitat extends down along the ,mexican coast4 ,p4 ,m4 ,hale1 in his 8,woods of ,north ,carolina10 describes several species of holly4 ,of ,ilex cassine he writes as follows3 ,yopon 7,i4 ,cassine ,linn474--,an elegant shrub1 #aj to #ae feet high1 but sometimes rising into a small tree of #bj to #be feet4 ,its native place is near to salt water1 and it is found from ,virginia southward1 but never far in the interior4 ,its dark evergreen leaves and bright red berries make it very ornamental in yards and shrubberies4 ,the leaves are small1 to #a inch long1 very smooth1 and evenly scalloped on the edges1 with small rounded teeth4 ,in some sections of the lower district1 especially in the region of the ,dismal ,swamp1 these are annually dried and used for tea1 which is1 however1 oppressively sudorific--at least1 to one not accustomed to it4 ,the mat1 or ,paraguay tea1 of ,south ,america1 is of the same genus as this1 but a very different species4 ,our yopon is the article from which the famous black drink of the ,southern ,indians was made4 ,at a certain time of the year they come down in droves from a distance of some hundred miles to the coast for the leaves of this tree4 ,they make a fire on the ground1 and putting a great kettle of water on it1 they throw in a large quantity of these leaves1 and1 seating themselves around the fire1 from a bowl that holds about a pint they begin drinking large draughts1 which in a short time occasion them to vomit freely and easily4 ,thus they continue drinking and vomiting for the space of #b or #c days1 until they have sufficiently cleansed themselves2 and then1 every one taking a bundle of the tree1 they all retire to their habitations4 ,,etymology ,,of ,,the ,,names 8,,dahoon10 8,,cassine10 ,,and 8,,youpon40 ,i have been at some pains to ascertain the correct etymology of these names4 ,dr4 ,albert ,s4 ,gatschet1 of the ,bureau of ,ethnology1 at ,washington1 ,d4 ,c41 one of the best authorities1 writes me as follows3 ,according to ,lawson there are two or three sorts of youpon4 ,the ,indians of ,south ,carolina call it 8cassina40 ,it grows on sand banks and islands near the sea4 7,used by the ,north ,carolina ,indians for tea47 ,it is written cassena4 ,from ,mutter it would appear that the cassine are chiefly ,african plants1 nor do ,i think that the name is ,indian4 ,i find no word in ,katawba corresponding to the word 8dahoon40 ,i saw here in the ,botanical ,garden a shrub from ,north ,carolina called ,ilex vomitoria1 undoubtedly the ,assi shrub4 8,assi0 is only an abbreviation of ,assi lupub'ski 7,creek71 8small leaves40 ,the ,shetimasha term was no'ut 7,ch4 ,c4 ,jones74 ,tomochichi calls it 8foskey10 probably ,yamassi1 a dialect of the ,creek4 ,w4 ,r4 ,gerard1 of ,new ,york1 an eminent philologist1 writes me3 ,the word cassine belongs to the language of the now extinct ,timucua ,indians of ,florida4 ,little is known of the language of those people4 ,it has seemed to me that they borrowed the word from the ,creeks1 who call ,ilex cassine ussie1 leaf tea4 ,cassine 7c-assi-ne7 would seem to be this word with a guttural prefix and a suffix ne of unknown meaning4 ,i can not refer the word dahoon to any ,indian language4 ,i believe it to be of ,french origin1 8houx d',ahon40 ,youpon is ,indian1 and seems to belong to the language of the long-extinct ,waccoons of ,north ,carolina4 ,the word is ,catawba1 for in ,catawba yp1 also pronounced 8yop10 means wood1 stick1 and tree4 ,prof4 ,lester ,f4 ,ward1 botanist of the ,u4 ,s4 ,national ,museum1 writes3 ,linn first used 8cassine0 as a generic name1 and applied it to a ,south ,african plant 7,gen4 ,ed4 ,nova3 ,no4 #cga1 #agec1 and his ,systema ,natur1 ed4 #acth1 ,lipsi1 #agia74 ,thomas ,walter used it first as a specific name for ,ilex 7,flor4-,carolina1 ,loud41 #aggh74 ,none of these two refer to the origin of the word4 ,thomas ,walter used dahoon as a specific name2 ,linn copied from him and spells it 8duhoon40 ,probably ,gerard's explanation of the etymology of those three words is correct1 for at the time ,walter and ,linn wrote the ,indian names of plants had been carried abroad by botanists and travelers in this country4 ,,chemistry ,,of ,,cassine4 ,,analysis ,,of ,,the ,,leaves ,,of ,,ilex ,,cassine4 ,i quote the following from a paper by ,f4 ,p4 ,venable1 ,,ph4,d41 ,university of ,north ,carolina3 ,having on hand a small sample of the leaves procured from ,new ,berue during the winter of #ahhc1 it seemed desirable to make an examination of them1 to decide1 if possible1 the presence of any alkaloid or other principle which would make the decoction useful as a beverage4 ,the usual treatment with magnesium oxide1 exhaustion with water1 separation by means of chloroform1 and subsequent purification was adhered to1 resulting in obtaining a small amount of a white substance slightly soluble in water1 more so in alcohol1 and easily soluble in chloroform1 which gave distinctly the tests for caffeine1 especially the murexide reaction1 and very closely resembled a specimen of pure caffeine from ,powers ,weightman4 ,this caffeine formed 4#cb per cent4 of the dried leaves4 ,later on1 in ,may1 a much larger supply of the same leaves was gotten from the neighborhood of ,wilmington4 ,a more thorough examination of them was then made1 with the following results3 ,water in air-dried samples #ac4ai ,extracted by water #bf4ee ,tannin #g4ci ,caffeine 4#bg ,nitrogen 7on combustion7 4#gc ,ash #e4ge ,mat or ,brazilian holly 7,ilex paraguayensis7 belongs to the same genus4 ,its ash analysis1 as made by ,seor ,arate1 is given in the second column4 ,the plant grows wild in ,brazil1 and is very largely used by the ,south ,americans4 ,it has1 according to ,peckolt 7,pharm4 ,j4 ,trans4 7#c7 #ad1 #aba-abd2 ,abstract ,jour4 ,chem4 ,soc41 #ahhd1 #dgi71 been planted1 and seems to succeed well1 in the ,cape of ,good ,hope1 ,spain1 and ,portugal4 ,it is stated that six different species of ,ilex are used in the preparation of this tea4 ,peckolt gives1 in his analysis of the air-dried leaves1 the percentage of caffeine as #j4fci4 ,the average percentage of analyses by different authors is about #a4c4 ,i can find mention of only one other ,ilex used as a substitute for tea4 ,the analysis of this by ,ryland and ,brown is quoted in ,blythe's 8,composition and ,analysis of ,foods0 7p4 #cdc74 ,it is called the ,ilex cassiva1 is said to be used as a tea in ,virginia1 and the percentage of caffeine is given as #j4ab4 ,this is probably the same thing as the yopon1 the analysis of which is given above1 and the 8cassiva0 may be a misprint for 8cassine40 ,in a more recent paper ,professor ,venable reports additional analyses1 which are interesting4 ,he says3 ,some years ago an analysis of the leaves of ,ilex cassine was given in this journal4#d ,in this analysis appeared the interesting fact that these leaves contained a small percentage of caffeine4 ,during the winter of #ahhe-'hf1 at the request of some medical friends whose attention was drawn to the analysis1 a more thorough examination was undertaken1 not only of the leaves1 but of the berries4 ,it was thought advisable1 at the same time1 to examine the leaves and fruit of other representatives of the ,ilex family in this ,state--,ilex opaca and ,ilex dahoon4 ,this was primarily a search after alkaloids1 and not intended as a complete chemical examination4 ,as no alkaloids were found other than the caffeine already mentioned1 no account of the work was published1 and the results have been hidden away in my note books ever since4 ,thinking1 however1 that even negative results are often of some value and that the partial analysis might be of aid to others1 ,i offer this paper for publication in the journal of the society4 ,besides the ,i4 opaca1 ,i4 dahoon1 ,i4 cassine1 according to ,curtis there are in this ,state five additional species of this genus3 ,i4 decidua ,walt4 ,i4 ambigua ,chapman2 ,i4 verticillata ,gray1 ,i4 glabra ,gray1 ,i4 coriacea ,chapm1 but the examination was not extended to them4 ,in searching for the alkaloids the directions of ,dragendorff were first followed4 ,the leaves 7or crushed berries7 were first digested at #dj-ej with dilute sulphuric acid4 ,this extract was evaporated to a sirupy consistence1 the residue mixed with three or four times its bulk of alcohol1 filtered after #bd hours' standing1 and washed with alcohol4 ,the alcohol was then distilled off from the filtrate1 the watery residue was diluted with water and filtered4 ,petroleum-ether1 benzol1 and chloroform were successively used to extract the alkaloidal principles1 if any were present in the acid liquid4 ,then1 after rendering alkaline with ammonia1 the liquid was again extracted with the solvents mentioned4 ,as1 even with water but slightly acidified with sulphuric acid1 some risk of the destruction or change of the alkaloids was run during the long evaporation1 a second method was made use of1 as follows3 ,the leaves were digested for #aj hours with #gj per cent alcohol1 the alcohol distilled off1 and the residue treated with lead acetate and soda4 ,the excess of lead was removed by means of sulphuretted hydrogen and the filtrate from this evaporated to a thin sirup4 ,this was then treated with strong alcohol1 filtered1 and the excess of alcohol distilled off4 ,bismuth1 potassium-iodide1 and sulphuric acid were next used to precipitate any alkaloid present4 ,the presence of albuminoid matter rendered it necessary to decompose this by means of soda1 neutralized with dilute sulphuric acid1 and reprecipitate with mercuric chloride4 ,the solutions to which mercuric chloride had been added were allowed to stand several days4 ,the results may be tabulated as follows3 ,i4 opaca1 leaves ,no alkaloid4 ,i4 opaca1 berries ,no alkaloid4 ,i4 dahoon1 leaves ,no alkaloid4 ,i4 dahoon1 berries ,no alkaloid4 ,i4 cassine1 leaves ,caffeine4 ,i4 cassine1 berries ,no alkaloid4 ,i regard these analyses as conclusive1 at least1 of the absence of the known1 well characterized alkaloids4 ,it is1 of course1 possible that other methods might reveal the presence of some of the more elusive ones4 ,it is interesting to note in this connection that of the five species in the genus ,thea1 only one contains theine2 of the genus ,cinchonace1 to which coffee belongs1 only one contains caffeine2 while of the many species of ,ilex in ,south ,america1 only three1 so far as known1 contain caffeine4 ,chemists assert that theine and caffeine are identical1 but physicians know that they differ widely in their physiological and therapeutic effects4 ,,physiological ,,and ,,toxic ,,effects4 ,all of the hollies possess decided physiological action on the human system4 ,ilex opaca once had a large reputation in ,europe and ,england in rheumatism1 gout1 cutaneous diseases1 and intermittent fever4 ,the young leaves and branches1 in ,france1 are fed to cattle1 and said to increase the quantity and quality of the milk of cows4 ,griffith 7,medical ,botany1 #ahdg7 writes of the cassine3 ,another native species1 the ,i4 vomitoria1 of ,aiton1 appears to be endowed with still more powerful properties4 ,this is a native of the most southern parts of the country1 where it is held in high esteem amongst the ,indians1 who considered it a holy plant1 and employed it in their religious ceremonies and councils1 to purge their bodies from all impurities4 ,they called both this and the ,i4 dahoon by the name of 8cassena40 ,the leaves1 which were the part employed1 were collected with great care1 and formed an article of trade among the tribes4 ,dr4 ,b4 ,s4 ,barton 78,collections10 #ch7 says of it3 8,it is thought to be one of the most powerful diuretics hitherto discovered4 ,it is held in great esteem among the ,southern ,indians2 they toast the leaves and make a decoction of them4 ,it is the men alone that are permitted to drink this decoction1 which is called #8black drink4'0 ,these leaves are inodorous1 and have a somewhat aromatic1 acrid taste4 ,in small doses the decoction acts as a powerful diuretic1 and in large ones produces discharges from the stomach1 bowels1 and bladder4 ,in ,north ,carolina1 on the seacoast1 the inhabitants modify the deleterious action of their brackish water by boiling a few leaves of cassena with it4 7,the ,african kola nut1 powdered and added to foul water1 is said to purify it4 ,it contains theobromine1 an alkaloid analogous to caffeine47 ,rafinesque 7,medical ,botany1 #ahbh7 calls it 8,cassine ,peragua0 7,schoeph71 or ,ilex vomitoria 7,aiton71 and says3 ,this by some is said to be the true cassine of the ,florida tribes4 ,but ,c4 aumlosa 7,rafinesque71 ,ilex cassine1 and dahoon1 ,viburnum cassinoides1 are all equally so named and used4 ,the leaves are bitterish1 sudorific1 purgative1 and diuretic2 vomitive and purgative in strong decoctions1 called 8black drink40 ,said to be useful in gravel1 nephritis1 diabetes1 fevers1 and small-pox4 ,king 7,dispensatory1 #ahfd7 says3 8,the ,ilex vomitoria1 or #8,south ,sea tea1' is the cassine of the ,indians4 ,a few leaves of this plant lessen the injurious influence of saline water40 ,it has never been made officinal in any pharmacopia in this country or ,europe4 ,,method ,,of ,,preparation4 ,the leaves and young tender branches were carefully picked4 ,the fresh cassine was gathered at the time of harvest or maturity of the fruits1 which was their ,new ,year4 ,the ,new ,year began with the 8busk10 which was celebrated in ,july or ,august1 8at the beginning of the first new moon in which their corn became full eared10 says ,adair4 ,the leaves were dried in the sun or shade and afterwards roasted4 ,the process seems to have been similar to that adopted for tea and coffee4 ,the roasting was done in ovens1 remains of which are found in the ,cherokee region2 or in large shallow pots or pans of earthenware1 such as the ,indian tribes made4 ,these roasted leaves were kept in baskets in a dry place until needed for use4 ,laudonnire 7#aefd7 writes of being presented with baskets filled with leaves of the cassine4 ,a description of the method of making the decoction1 or 8black drink10 will be found in ,dickenson's and ,bartram's narrations1 and in other quotations below4 ,a special feature was the practice of pouring the liquid from one bowl to another until a deep froth appeared4 ,whether this was supposed to increase the potency of the beverage1 or was a fashion1 like the ,spanish method of whipping chocolate to a foam1 is a question2 probably the latter is the true explanation4 ,the ,japanese treat their infusions of tea in the same manner4 ,was it an article of commerce8--,there seems to be no doubt on this subject4 ,allusions to the drinking of the 8black drink0 are found1 indicating its use among tribes residing at a long distance from the habitat of the cassine4 ,lawson 7#agji7 writes of its being 8collected by the savages of the coast of ,carolina1 and from them sent to the westward ,indians and sold at a considerable price40 ,dr4 ,porcher1 author of the 8,resources of the ,south10 says3 8,the ,creek ,indians used a decoction of the cassine at the opening of their councils1 sending to the seacoast for a supply10 and adds that the coast ,indians sent it to the far west tribes4 ,how far its use extended northward ,i can not ascertain4 ,from some allusions of the early ,french writers ,i think it was used by the ,natchez1 and that it was sent up the ,mississippi from the coast of ,louisiana4 ,the ,indians of ,wisconsin1 ,illinois1 and westward1 used a decoction of willow leaves as a beverage1 but ,i can not find that they used it in ceremonials1 or that it was looked upon with the same reverence4 ,it appears from the accounts of various early writers that there were several methods of preparing the black drink4 7#a7 ,the decoction made of the fresh leaves and young branches4 7#b7 ,a decoction of the dried and roasted leaves4 ,it is probable that the leaves during roasting developed new qualities1 as the roasting of coffee brings out the aromatic odor due to a volatile oil4 7#c7 ,a decoction which was allowed to ferment4 ,in this condition it became an alcoholic beverage1 capable of causing considerable intoxication1 similar to that caused by beer or ale4 ,mc,cullough1 in his 8,researches10 seems to be in error when he asserts3 ,none of the people of ,florida appear to have used intoxicating drinks2 but they made a hot tea from the leaves of the cassine 7,prinos glaber71 which they poured backwards and forwards until it frothed4 ,this tea may have been slightly stimulant1 but it seems to have had no other than a diaphoretic or diuretic effect4 ,this seems to have been the belief of all the early writers1 but ,i have always doubted it1 for if true the ,north ,american ,indians would stand about alone among races above the lower grade of savagery in their ignorance of alcoholic beverages4 ,the ,mexican ,indians 7,aztecs71 the tribes of the ,pacific coast and of ,central ,america1 all had intoxicating drinks4 ,i admit that there is no proof that the ,indians of ,canada and of the ,states north of the ,ohio and the ,potomac possessed intoxicating beverages1 but there is ample proof that the southern ,indians brewed from cassine a strong beer4 ,in my experiments ,i find that an infusion of cassine leaves with boiling water1 after standing till cool1 gives a scarcely perceptible taste and slight odor4 ,this infusion1 if boiled for half an hour1 gives a dark liquid like very strong black tea1 of an aromatic odor1 sui generis1 not like coffee1 but more like ,oolong tea without its pleasant rose odor4 ,the taste is like that of an inferior black tea1 quite bitter1 but with little delicacy of flavor4 ,it is not an unpleasant beverage1 and ,i can imagine that the palate would become accustomed to it1 as to mat1 tea1 or coffee4 ,,history4 ,the early history of the use of ,ilex cassine as a beverage is lost in the darkness of prehistoric ages4 ,probably the same can be said of tea1 coffee1 mat1 and cocoa4 ,but it is a singular fact that while all the latter beverages still continue to be used in the countries where they are indigenous1 as well as all over the world1 the use of cassine is nearly extinct1 as it is now only used occasionally in certain important religious ceremonies by the remnants of the ,creek ,indians1 and will disappear with them unless rescued by chemical research and its use revived for hygienic or economical reasons4 ,the very earliest mention of cassine was made in the 8,migration ,legend of the ,creek ,indians40 ,this curious legend has been lately published by ,a4 ,s4 ,gatschet1 of the ,bureau of ,ethnology1 ,washington1 ,d4 ,c41 with text1 glossaries1 etc4 ,in his preface he says3 8,the migration legend of the ,kosihta tribe is one of the most fascinating accounts that has reached us from remote antiquity and is mythical in its first part40 ,this tribe was a part of the ,creek ,nation4 ,its chief1 ,tchikilli1 read the legend before ,governor ,oglethorpe and many ,british authorities in #agce4 ,it was written in red and black characters 7pictographic signs7 on a buffalo skin4 ,this was sent to ,london1 and was lost there2 but fortunately a text of the narrative was preserved in a ,german translation4 ,it begins by narrating that the tribe started from a region variously supposed to be west of the ,mississippi1 or in southern ,illinois1 or southern ,ohio4 ,they traveled west1 then south1 then southeast1 until they reached eastern ,georgia4 ,here they met a tribe1 called in the legend1 the 8,palachucolas10 who gave them 8black drink0 as a sign of friendship1 and said to them1 8,our hearts are white1 and yours must be white1 and you must lay down the bloody tomahawk1 and show your bodies as a proof that they shall be white40 ,this was evidently the first knowledge the ,kosihta tribe had of this beverage4 ,the next mention is by ,cabeza de ,vaca1 who found the ,cutalchiches west of the mouth of the ,mississippi drinking a tea from the leaves of a tree like an oak4 ,another narrative says1 8,leaves like a plum leaf40 ,it was drunk by men only4 ,jean ,ribault1 the ,french explorer of east ,florida 7#afff71 mentions his first experience in tasting the beverage3 8,leur boisson qu'ils appellent cassinet se fait d'herbes composes1 et m'a sembl de telle couleur que la cervoyce de ce pays2 j'en ay goust et ne l'ay point trouv fort estrange40 7,their drink1 which they call cassinet1 is made of compounded herbs1 and seemed to me about the color of ,french beer4 ,i tasted it and did not find it at all unpleasant47 ,gatschet1 in commenting on the mention of cassine in the legend1 says3 ,black drink was prepared from the small and narrow leaves and the tender shoots of the shrub ,ilex cassine1 which grows spontaneously as far north as the thirty-seventh degree of latitude4 ,the white people of the ,carolinas prepared from it a sort of tea4 ,the botanical name formerly given to the plant was ,cassine yaupon1 yaupon being a derivative from the ,katawba term yp or yop plant1 tree1 or shrub4 ,the name cassine was first applied1 as ,prof4 ,lester ,f4 ,ward informs me1 as a generic name to a ,south ,african plant by ,linn1 and as a species name for an ,ilex by ,thomas ,walter4 7,dahoon is the name of another ,ilex2 ,walter spells it duhoon1 others houx d'ahon47 ,the plant and decoction are called by the ,sketimasha1 nu'ut2 by the ,creeks1 ,assi luputski1 small leaves1 which is generally abbreviated to ,assi leaves4 ,the term black drink originated among the ,british traders4 ,in ,ch4 ,c4 ,jones's 8,tomochichi10 p4 #aah1 it is called 8foskey40 ,the ,creeks made use of the ,assi as we use fermented liquors1 to promote conviviality2 but it entered also into their ceremonies of religion and warfare4 ,but the black drink potion was not always prepared in the same strength4 ,the ancient ,creeks had three modes of preparing it2 the three potions resulting from them widely differed in strength according to the uses for which they were intended4 ,small quantities of the young leaf1 parched in a pot until it assumed a brown color1 produced a liquor acting as an exhilarant and gentle diuretic2 it was drank by the people at the busk1 and by the 8elders0 when assembled in council or when discussing every-day topics4 ,after the potion had been poured from one pan or cooler into another1 it begins to ferment and to produce a white froth1 from which it is styled also white drink1 the term 8white0 alluding simultaneously to its purifying qualities4 ,to make the liquid stronger a larger infusion of the parched leaves is required2 it then assumes a dark hue1 nearly as black as molasses1 and acts as a powerful intoxicating stimulant4 ,a still larger addition of the cassine leaf produces a strong narcotic1 which was1 as mentioned previously1 used by conjurors to evoke prophetic ecstacies accompanied by dreams4 ,the black drink of the weaker sort acts as an emetic1#e and was used as such at the annual busk and on other occasions extensively2 this gave to the liquid its renown as a bodily and moral purificator1 for primitive people are prone to regard agencies which act with mysterious force upon the bodily constitution as symbols for abstract spiritual or religious ideas4 ,this drink being served at all games and festivals1 councils1 and conclusions of treaties1 special ministrants1 the ,hinihalgi1 were appointed for its manufacture by the miko of the town4 ,on festive days they prepared it with peculiar ceremonies and served it to all who attended the celebration in the square4 ,the singing of the yahola1 or black-drink note1 was1 and is still1 a peculiar rite connected with the drinking of this favorite liquid4 ,narvaez writes 7#aecf7 of the ,indians on the coast of ,texas3 ,they have a sort of drink made of the leaves of a tree like the mulberry tree1 which they boil very well and work it up into a froth1 and so drink it as hot as ever they can suffer it to come into their mouths4 ,all the while this is over the fire the vessel must be close shut2 and if by chance it should be uncovered1 and a woman should come by in the meantime1 they would drink none of it1 but fling it all away4 ,likewise1 while they stand cooling it and pouring it out to drink1 a woman must not stir or move1 or they would throw it all to the ground1 or spew it up again if they had drunk any2 she herself would incur the bastinado4 ,all this time they continue bawling out aloud1 8,who will drink80 and when the women begin to hear these exclamations1 then it is that they settle themselves in their postures1 and were they sitting or standing1 though it were a tiptoe1 or one leg up and the other down1 they must continue so till the men have cooled their liquor and made it fit to drink4 ,the reason of this is every whit as foolish and unreasonable as the custom itself1 for they say should not the women stand still when they hear their voice some bad thing would be conveyed into the liquor1 which they say would make them die2 and if such a generation of asses were all poisoned it were no great loss to the world4 ,in the narrative of ,ren ,laudonnire 7#aefd7 he says of his expedition from ,fort ,caroline1 at the mouth of the river of ,may 7,st4 ,johns71 ,florida3 ,i departed with fifty of my best soldiers in two barks1 and arrived in the dominion of ,utina1 distant from our fort about #dj or #ej leagues 7#abe miles72 and going ashore we drew near his village1 situated #f leagues from the river1 where we took him prisoner4 ,they 7his tribe7 therefore brought me fish in their little boats1 and their meal of mast 7maize72 they also made their drink which they call cassine1 which they sent to ,utina and me4 ,the map in ,le ,moine's ,narrative shows the residence of ,utina to be west of the river ,st4 ,johns1 and in such a position that it is possible that ,laudonnire went up the ,st4 ,johns to the ,ochlawaha ,river1 then up that river to ,orange ,creek and to ,orange ,lake1 which is of crescent shape1 just as it is figured on ,le ,moine's map4 ,the cassine which ,utina's men sent to him must have been obtained from the east or west coast1 unless it was the leaves of the ,ilex dahoon1 which grows in the interior of ,florida4 ,le ,moine1 in his 8,narrative10 illustrated with drawings and written in #aejd1 has the following mention of cassine3 ,i sent a second expedition1 with two shallops1 having soldiers and sailors aboard1 with a present to be given in my name to the widow of a deceased chief named ,hionacara1 who lived about #ab miles north of us4 ,she received my men kindly1 and loaded both of these shallops1 for me1 with maize and nuts2 and she sent in addition some baskets of cassina leaves1 of which they make a drink4 ,in another place he describes the proceedings of the original ,floridians in deliberating on important affairs2 this description is illustrated with a spirited drawing3 ,the chief and his nobles are accustomed during certain days of the year to meet early every morning for this express purpose in a public place1 in which a long bench is constructed1 having at the middle of it a projecting part laid with nine round trunks of trees1 for the chief's seat4 ,on this he sits by himself for distinction sake2 and the rest come to salute him1 one at a time1 the oldest first1 by lifting both hands twice to the height of the head1 and saying1 8,ha1 he1 ya1 ha1 ha40 ,to this the rest answer1 8,ha1 ha40 ,each as he completes his salutation1 takes his seat on the bench4 ,if any question of importance is to be discussed the chief calls upon his lauas 7that is1 his priests71 and upon the elders1 one at a time1 to deliver their opinions4 ,they decide upon nothing until they have held a number of councils over it1 and they deliberate very sagely before deciding4 ,meanwhile the chief orders the women to boil some cassine2 which is a drink prepared from the leaves from a certain root and which they afterwards pass through a strainer4 ,the chief and his councillors being now seated in their places1 one stands before him1 and spreading forth his hands wide open1 asks a blessing upon the chief and the others who are to drink4 ,then the cup-bearer brings the hot drink in a capacious shell1 first to the chief1 and then1 as the chief directs1 to the rest in their order1 in the same shell4 ,they esteem this drink so highly that no one is allowed to drink it in council unless he has proved himself a brave warrior4 ,moreover1 this drink has the quality of at once throwing into a sweat whoever drinks it4 ,on this account those who can not keep it down1 but whose stomachs reject it1 are not intrusted with any difficult commission1 or any military responsibility1 being considered unfit1 for they often have to go three or four days without food2 but one who can drink this liquor can go for #bd hours afterward without eating or drinking4 ,in military expeditions also1 the only supplies which they carry consist of gourd bottles or wooden vessels full of this drink4 ,it strengthens and nourishes the body1 and yet does not fly to the head1 as we have observed on occasion of these feasts of theirs4 ,in 8,the ,karankawa ,indians1 the coast people of ,texas10 by ,a4 ,s4 ,gatschet 7,peabody ,museum1 #ahia71 ,mrs4 ,oliver1 who lived among that tribe1 says3 ,at their principal festival1 at the full moon1 they assembled in a tent1 in the middle of which was a small fire upon which boiled a very strong and black decoction made from the leaves of the youpon tree4 ,from time to time this was stirred with a whisk1 till the top was covered thickly with a yellowish froth4 ,this tea1 contained in a vessel of clay of their own manufacture1 was handed around occasionally and all the ,indians drank freely4 ,it was very bitter and said to be intoxicating1 but if so1 it could only have been when drunk to great excess1 as it never seemed to produce any visible effect upon them4 ,she further mentions a chant1 which rose and fell in a melancholy cadence1 and occasionally all the ,indians joined in the chorus1 which was ha-i-yah1 ha-i-yah1 hai1 hai-yah1 hai-yah4 ,the first two words were shouted slowly1 then a succession of hai-yahs very rapidly uttered in chromatic ascending and descending tones1 ending in an abrupt hai6 very loud and far reaching4 ,compare this with the ,creek ceremonies--,adair4 ,gatschet adds a note3 8,the ,texans find it yopon in the woods1 not on the coast line1 and drink a tea or decoction of it with sugar and milk4 ,the white people east of the ,mississippi do the same40 ,in the narrative of the expedition of ,dominique de ,gourges 7#aefg7 to ,florida1 to revenge the massacre of the ,huguenots at ,st4 ,augustine1 it is narrated that when he was on a visit to the ,chief ,satoriona1 whose tribe lived in southern ,georgia1 near the seacoast-- ,before leaving there the savages made a beverage1 called by them cassine1 which they are accustomed to take at all times1 and when they go to fight in places where there is danger4 ,this beverage1 made of a certain plant1 and drunk quite hot1 keeps them from being hungry or thirsty for #bd hours4 ,they presented it first to ,captain ,gourges1 who pretended to drink it1 and swallowed none of it2 then ,satoriona partook of it1 and after him all the others1 each one according to his rank4 ,this assertion that the drink prevents hunger and thirst reminds us of the similar effect of coca leaves used by the ,peruvian ,indians1 and now an officinal medicine used for the same purpose4 ,james ,adair was an ,englishman1 who lived #dj years among the ,southern ,indians 7from #agce to #agge71 and whose 8,history of the ,american ,indians0 is invaluable to the antiquarian4 ,it was published in ,london1 ,a4 ,d4 #agge1 and is a mine of valuable information4 ,he thus describes the cassine3 ,there is a species of tea that grows spontaneously and in great plenty along the seacoast of the two ,carolinas1 ,georgia1 and east and west ,florida1 which we call yopon or casseena4 ,the ,indians transplant and are very fond of it4 ,they drink it on certain occasions1 and in the most religious ceremonies1 with awful invocations2 but the women and children and those who have not accompanied their holy ark1 pro aris et focis1 dare not even enter the sacred square when they are on their religious duty4 ,he says distinctly that the ,indians 8transplant0 the shrub1 which means that they cultivated it1 and in another place he uses a phrase which implies that they had plantations near to their 8temples10 or places of worship4 ,travelers in ,paraguay assert that1 though attempts have been made by ,jesuits and others to cultivate plantations of mat1 or ,paraguay tea1 it has never succeeded under cultivation4 ,adair is the only author who mentions this transplanting4 ,in another place ,adair says3 ,the yopon1 or casseena1 is very plenty in northwest ,florida as far as the salt air reaches over the lowlands4 ,it is well tasted and very agreeable to those who accustom themselves to use it4 ,instead of having any noxious quality1 according to what many have experienced of the ,east ,india insipid and costly tea1 it is friendly to the human system1 enters into and contests with the peccant humors1 and expels them through the various channels of nature4 ,it perfectly cures a tremor of the nerves4 ,at the time ,adair wrote the above1 ,chinese tea was a rare and expensive luxury in ,england1 and its use was opposed as intensely as was the use of tobacco when it was first introduced4 ,the power ascribed to cassine of curing 8tremors0 is significant4 ,adair1 in the same paragraph1 mentions another leaf used as a beverage1 but his description is so indefinite that ,i am not able to decide as to its botanical name4 ,it is certainly not the ,ceanothus 7,new ,jersey tea74 ,on referring to ,rafinesque1 ,i think this 8,north ,america tea0 may be the ,viburnum cassinoides1 which1 he says1 is 8also named cassine1 and so used40 ,he also says that 8,v4 levigatum and ,v4 prunifolium are used for the tea in the ,south40 ,adair further says3 ,the ,north ,american tea has a pleasant aromatic taste and the same salubrious property as the casseena4 ,it is an evergreen and grows on hills4 ,the bushes are about a foot high1 each of them containing in winter a small1 aromatic1 red berry in the middle of the stalk4 ,such ,i saw it about ,christmas1 when hunting among the mountains1 opposite to the lower ,mohawk ,castle1 in the time of deep snow4 ,there is no visible decay of the leaf1 and ,october seems the proper time to gather it4 ,he frequently refers to the 8sacred uses0 of the black drink1 a decoction of the cassine4 ,i quote his most important allusions3 ,there is a carved human statue of wood1 to which1 however1 they pay no religious homage4 ,it belongs to the head war town of the upper ,muskogee country1 and seems to have been originally designed to perpetuate the memory of some distinguished hero who deserved well of his country1 for when this casseena1 or bitter black drink1 is about to be drank in the ,synedrion they frequently on common occasions will bring it there and honor it with the first conch shell full1 by the hand of the chief religious attendant1 and then they return it to its former place4 ,it is observable that the same beloved waiter1 or holy attendant1 and his coadjutant1 equally observe the same ceremony to every person of reputed merit of that quadrangular place4 7,adair seems to have written this book for the sole purpose of proving that the ,creeks were one of the lost tribes of ,israel4 ,he imagines that in one of their religious festivals they invoke the name of ,jehovah under the appellation of ,y-,o-,he-,wah47 ,when this beloved liquid1 or supposed drink offering1 is fully prepared and fit to be drank1 one of the magi brings two old1 consecrated1 large conch shells out of a place appropriate for containing the holy things1 and delivers them into the hands of two religious attendants1 who1 after a wild ceremony1 fill them with the supposed sanctifying bitter liquid2 then they approach near to the two central red and white seats 7which the leaders call the war and beloved cabins71 stooping with their heads and bodies pretty low4 ,advancing a few steps in this posture1 they carry their shells with both hands1 at an instant1 to one of the most principal men on those red and white seats1 saying in a bass key1 ,yah1 quite short2 then in like manner they retreat backwards1 facing each other with their heads bowing forward1 their arms across rather below their breasts and their eyes half shut4 ,thus in a very grave1 solemn manner they sing on a strong bass key the awful monosyllable ,o for the space of a minute2 then they strike up a majestic ,he on the treble1 with a very intent voice1 as long as their breath allows them1 and on a bass key1 with a bold voice and short accent1 they at last utter the strong1 mysterious accent ,wah1 and thus finish the great song1 or most solemn invocation of the divine essence4 ,the notes together compose the sacred1 mysterious name1 ,y-,o-,he-,wah4 ,the favored persons1 whom the religious attendants are invoking the divine essence to bless1 hold up their shells with both hands to their mouths during the awful sacred invocation1 and retain a mouthful of the drink to spurt out upon the ground as a supposed drink offering to the great self-existing giver1 which they offer at the end of their draft4 ,if any of the traders who at those times are invited to drink with them were to neglect this religious observance they would reckon us as godless and wild as the wolves of the desert4 ,after the same manner the supposed holy waiters proceed1 from the highest to the lowest1 in their ,synedrion1 and when they have ended that awful solemnity they go round the whole square1 or quadrangular place1 and collect tobacco from the sanctified sinners1 according to ancient customs3 8,for they who serve at the altar must live by the altar40 ,in another place 7page #ajf71 in describing at great length one of the religious festivals of the ,creeks1 ,adair says3 8,he0 the ,arch ,magus1 or fire-maker1 8consecrates the button-snake root and casseena by pouring a little of those two strong decoctions into the pretended holy fire4 ,he then purifies the red and white seats with those bitter liquids and sits down40 ,this leads me to observe that the sacred 8black drink0 was not made of the cassine alone1 but sometimes of several bitter and aromatic roots and leaves4 ,mrs4 ,a4 ,e4 ,w4 ,robertson1 in a letter from ,okmulgee1 ,ind4 ,t41 writes3 8,the black drink as now prepared is1 ,i think1 made from three plants1 the 8,passa10 7,pasa7 or ,button ,snakeroot 7,eryngium aquaticum71 and the ,mekko ,hoyonee v4 7,micco-,hoyonvicha71 a small willow1 and the third ,i do not now recall40 ,it may be that cassine is not now used at all by the ,creeks in ,indian ,territory1 for it does not grow there1 and if used would have to be imported from the ,atlantic or ,gulf coast4 ,bossu1 who traveled through the country now known as ,louisiana1 ,mississippi1 ,alabama1 and ,georgia1 in #agea1 makes no mention of the use of cassine by the ,indians of the two first-named ,states 7,natchez71 nor by the ,indians along the ,mississippi as far as he traveled1 namely1 to the country of the ,illinois4 ,but in his travels eastward1 when he was in the neighborhood of ,mobile1 he writes3 ,all the ,allibamas drink the cassine4#f ,this is the leaf of a little tree which is very shady2 the leaf is about the size of a farthing1 but dentated on its margins4 ,they toast these leaves as we do coffee1 and drink the infusion of them with great ceremony4 ,when this diuretic potion is prepared1 the young people go to present it1 in calabashes formed into cups1 to the chiefs and warriors1 that is1 the honorables1 and afterwards to the other warriors1 according to their rank and degree4 ,the same order is preserved when they present the calumet to smoke out of4 ,whilst you drink1 they howl as loud as they can and diminish the sound gradually4 ,when you have ceased drinking they take their breath1 and when you drink again they set up their howls again4 ,these sorts of orgies sometimes last from #f in the morning to #b o'clock in the afternoon4 ,the ,indians find no inconvenience from this potion1 to which they attribute many virtues1 and return it without any effort4 ,the women never drink of this beverage1 which is only made for the warriors4 ,what ,bossu says relating to the size of the leaves shows conclusively that it was the leaf of the tree ,ilex cassine1 for one of the leaves is just the diameter of the ,english farthing1 a coin the size of the old half cent of ,american currency4 ,his phrase 8return it without any effort0 is rather ambiguous1 but it probably refers to the expulsion of the decoction after having drenched their stomachs with it4 ,i do not think this was a true emesis1 for there is no proof that it was an emetic4 ,the ,indians doubtless swallowed such large quantities that it was regurgitated without effort4 ,bossu's only other reference to the cassine is when1 in describing a council between the ,french and the ,allibamas1 he writes3 ,the ,chevalier de ,emville held a speech to the assembly in his turn1 and made the nation a present which the governor had sent him4 ,the ,indians gave him the great calumet of peace to smoke2 all the soldiers and ,french inhabitants likewise smoked it1 in sign of a general amnesty4 ,afterwards they drank the cassine1 which is the potion of the white word1 i4 e41 the potion of oblivion and peace4 ,bernard ,romans1 8,natural ,history of ,florida0 7#agge71 page #id1 writes as follows3 ,the cassine is used by them 7the ,creeks7 as a drink2 they barbecue or toast the leaves and make a strong decoction of them2 then men only are permitted to drink this liquor1 to which they attribute many virtues4 ,it is made so strong as to be black and raise a froth4 ,when they drink it at their assemblies in the square they call it black drink4 ,romans states 7p4 #if7 that it was the business of the women to 8prepare the cassine drink40 ,these are his only allusions to cassine4 ,william ,bartram1 in his 8,travels in ,florida0 7#agib71 one of the most fascinating books ever written1 narrates that he attended a 8feast0 given by the 8,white king of ,talahafochta10 near the ,river 8,appalochuchla0 7,apalachicola71 and says3 ,when the feast was over1 99 99 99 our chief1 with the rest of the white people in town1 took their seats according to order2 tobacco and pipes were brought2 the calumet was lighted and smoked1 circulating according to the usual forms and ceremony2 and afterwards black drink concluded the feast4 ,the king conversed1 drank cassine1 and associated familiarly with his people and with us4 7,p4 #bcd47 ,again1 when in what is now ,georgia1 or extreme north ,florida1 meeting the ,creek ,indians at a town he calls 8,attasse10 he attended a great council of the chiefs of that nation3 ,i was introduced to the ancient chiefs at the public square or areopagus2 and in the evening in company with the traders1 who are numerous in this town1 repaired to the great rotunda1 where were assembled the greatest number of ancient1 venerable chiefs and warriors that ,i had ever beheld2 we spent the evening and greater part of the night together in drinking cassine and smoking tobacco4 ,the great council house1 or rotunda1 is appropriated to much the same purpose as the public square1 but more private1 and seems particularly dedicated to political affairs2 women and youth are never admitted1 and ,i suppose it is death for a female to presume to enter the door or approach within its pale4 ,it is a vast conical building of circular dome1 capable of accommodating many hundred people3 constructed and furnished within exactly in the same manner as those of the ,cherokees already described1 but much larger than any ,i had seen of them2 there are people appointed to take care of it1 to have it daily swept clean1 and to provide canes for fuel or to give light4 ,as their vigils and manner of conducting their vespers and mystical fire in this rotunda are extremely singular1 and altogether different from the customs and usages of any other people1 ,i shall proceed to describe them4 ,in the first place1 the governor or officer who has the management of this business1 with his servants attending1 orders the black drink to be brewed1 which is a decoction or infusion of the leaves and tender shoots of the cassine2 this is done under an open shed or pavilion1 at #bj or #cj yards distance1 directly opposite the door of the council house4 ,next he orders bundles of dry canes to be brought in2 these are previously split and broken in pieces to about the length of #b feet1 and then placed obliquely crossways upon one another on the floor1 forming a spiral circle round about the great center pillar1 rising to a foot or #ah inches in height from the ground2 and this circle1 spreading as it proceeds round and round1 often repeated from right to left1 every revolution increases its diameter1 and it at length extends to the distance of #aj or #ab feet from the center1 more or less1 according to the length of time the assembly or meeting is to continue4 ,by the time these preparations are accomplished1 it is night1 and the assembly have taken their seats in order4 ,the exterior extremity or outer end of the spiral circle takes fire and immediately rises into a bright flame 7but how this is effected ,i did not plainly apprehend2 ,i saw no person set fire to it2 there might have been fire left on the earth2 however1 ,i neither saw nor smelt fire or smoke until the blaze instantly ascended upwards71 which gradually and slowly creeps round the center pillar1 with the course of the fire1 feeding on the dry canes1 and affords a cheerful1 gentle1 and sufficient light until the circle is consumed1 when the council breaks up4 ,soon after this illumination takes place the aged chiefs and warriors are seated on their cabins or sofas1 on the side of the house opposite the door1 in three classes or ranks1 rising a little one above or behind the other2 and the white people and red people of confederate towns in like order on the left hand1 a transverse range of pillars1 supporting a thin clay wall about breast high1 separating them2 the king's cabin or seat is in front2 the next to the back of it the head warriors'1 and the third or last accommodates the young warriors1 etc4 ,the great war chief's seat or place is in the same cabin with and immediately to the left hand of the king and next to the white people2 and to the right hand of the mico or king the most venerable headmen and warriors are seated4 ,the assembly being now seated in order1 and the house illuminated1 two middle-aged men1 who perform the office of slaves or servants pro tempore1 come in together at the door1 each having very large conch shells full of black drink1 and advance with slow1 uniform1 and steady steps1 their eyes or countenance lifted up1 singing very low but sweetly2 they come within #f or #h paces of the king's and white people's cabin1 when they stop together1 and each rests his shell on a tripod or little table1 but presently takes it up again1 and bowing very low1 advances obsequiously1 crossing or intersecting each other about midway2 he who rested his shell before the white people now stands before the king1 and the other1 who stopped before the king1 stands before the white people1 when each presents his shell1 one to the king and the other to the chief of the white people2 and as soon as he raises it to his mouth1 the slave utters or sings two notes1 each of which continues as long as he has breath1 and as long as these notes continue so long must the person drink1 or at least keep the shell to his mouth4 ,these two long notes are very solemn1 and at once strike the imagination with a religious awe or homage to the ,supreme1 sounding somewhat like a hoo-ojah and a he-yah4 ,after this manner the whole assembly are treated as long as the drink or light continues to hold out2 and as soon as the drinking begins1 tobacco and pipes are brought4 ,mark ,catesby 7,hortus americanus1 #agfc7 describes the ,ilex cassine as follows3 ,this shrub usually rises from the ground with several stems to the height of #ab feet1 shooting into many upright1 slender1 stiff branches1 covered with a whitish1 smooth bark1 and set alternately with small evergreen serrated leaves1 resembling those of the ,aleternus2 its flowers are small and white1 and grow promiscuously among the leaves1 and are succeeded by small spherical berries on short footstalks4 ,these berries turn red in ,october and remain so all winter1 whereby with the green leaves and white bark they produce an elegant appearance4 ,but the esteem the ,american ,indians have for this shrub1 from the great use they make of it1 renders it most worthy of notice4 ,they say its virtues have been known amongst them from the earliest times1 and they have long used it in the same manner as they do at present4 ,they prepare the leaves for keeping by drying or rather parching them in a pottage pot over a slow fire1 and a strong decoction of the leaves thus cured is their beloved liquor1 of which they drink large quantities1 both for health and pleasure1 without sugar or other mixture4 ,they drink it down and disgorge it with ease1 repeating it very often1 and swallowing many quarts4 ,they say it restores lost appetite1 strengthens the stomach1 and confirms their health1 giving them agility and courage in war4 ,it grows chiefly in the maritime parts of the country1 but not farther north than the capes of ,virginia4 ,the ,indians on the seacoast supply those of the mountains therewith1 and carry on a considerable trade with it in ,florida1 just as the ,spaniards do with their ,south ,sea tea from ,paraguay to ,buenos ,ayres4 ,now1 ,florida being in the same latitude north as ,paraguay is south1 and no apparent difference being found on comparing the leaves of these two plants together1 it is not improbable they may be both the same4 ,in ,south ,carolina it is called cassena1 in ,virginia and ,north ,carolina it is known by the name of yopon2 in the latter of which places it is as much in use amongst the white people as among the ,indians1 and especially among those who inhabit the seacoast4 ,this plant is raised from the seeds1 which lie #b years in the ground before it appears2 it grows plentifully on many of the sand banks on the seashore of ,carolina4 ,in that rare and quaint narrative of ,jonathan ,dickenson 7#agij71 8who was shipwrecked on the southeast coast of ,florida among the savage cannibals10 he states that when a short distance south of the 8village of ,sta4 ,lucca0 7,st4 ,lucia71 and among the ,indians and at the 8house of the ,cassekey10 he heard often a strange noise in another part of the house which he could not account for4 ,the following quotation is interesting2 it shows that cassine grows on the extreme south coast of ,florida1 and gives the method of preparing the black drink among those barbarous nations3 ,in one part of this house where the fire was kept was an ,indian man having a pot on the fire wherein he was making a drink of the leaves of a shrub 7which we understood afterward by the ,spaniard is called cassena71 boiling the said leaves after they had parched them in a pot2 then with a gourd having a long neck and at the top of it a small hole which the top of one's finger could cover and at the side of it a round hole of #b inches diameter1 they take the liquor out of the pot and put it in a deep round bowl1 which being almost filled containeth nigh #c gallons4 ,with this gourd they brew the liquor and make it froth very much2 it looketh of a deep brown color4 ,in the brewing of this liquor was this noise made which we thought strange1 for the pressing of the gourd gently down into the liquor and the air which it contained being forced out of the little hole at top occasioned a sound1 and according to the time and motion given would be various1 this drink1 when made and cooled to sup1 was in a shell first carried to the ,cassekey1 who threw part of it on the ground and the rest he drank up1 and then would make a loud hem1 and afterwards the cup passed to the rest of the ,cassekey's associates as aforesaid1 but no other man1 woman1 or child must touch or taste of this sort of drink1 of which they sat sipping1 chattering1 and smoking tobacco1 or some other herb instead thereof1 for the most part of the day4 ,in a letter from ,william ,baldwin1 a noted naturalist and surgeon in the ,u4 ,s4 ,navy1 written from ,st4 ,marys1 ,fla4 7#f miles from ,fernandina71 in #ahaf1 he mentions finding the ,ilex prinoides predominant on the sandy1 shrubby plains of the vicinity3 ,its common height is about #f or #h feet1 and at this season 7,december71 with its ripe crimson-colored fruit1 makes a fine appearance4 ,the berry of this species is considerably larger than that of any other ,i have seen1 and is not unpleasant to the taste1 possessing an agreeable sweet1 along with a slight bitter4 ,i have eaten freely of it with entire impunity4 ,he discusses the question whether the genus ,prinos should not be merged into that of ,ilex4 ,they are so near alike that their leaves doubtless possess similar properties1 and are probably mixed with cassine4 ,collinson1 in a letter from ,london1 ,england1 to ,john ,bartram1 #agci1 makes mention of 8the yupon of ,virginia1 or cassena of ,carolina0 7,ilex cassena or ,i4 vomituria74 ,the ,indians drive a great trade with the berries 787 to make tea with to the ,gulf of ,mexico4 ,it grows nowhere to the northward of that island they found it on1 which belongs to ,col4 ,custis4 ,i have it in my garden4 7,he errs as to the berries being used1 but proves that it can be cultivated47 ,dr4 ,fothergill cultivated it together with mat in his botanical garden in ,london in #aghd4 7,see his ,memoirs47 ,john ,lee ,williams1 in his history of east and west ,florida1 #ahcg1 a work unique in character and of special value to historians1 contains but one mention of the 8black drink40 ,it is in a mention of ,oseola1 a noted chief of the ,seminoles4 ,in writing of his parentage1 he says3 ,powell1 or ,oseola1 is a native ,red ,stick2 who his father was is unknown1 but it is said that his mother was at one time connected with an ,englishman of the name of ,powell4 ,we are informed by a respectable ,creek chief that his name is ,as-sin ,yahole1 8,singer at the black drink40 ,now this word ,as-sin is a variation of cassine1 and ,oseola was probably one of those whose duty it was to sing during the ceremonies which accompanied the drinking of cassine4 ,it is strange that the cassine has not been celebrated in poetry or song4 ,the songs of the ,creeks have not been preserved4 ,perhaps they sung the praises of the 8black drink40 ,the only mention ,i find in poetry is an allusion to it as 8the tough cassine10 in the poems of ,mrs4 ,sigourney1 when she enumerates the variety and qualities of the trees of ,america4 ,c4 ,c4 ,jones1 in his 8,antiquities of the ,southern ,indians10 writes 7page #aa73 8,the black drink was a decoction of the leaves and tender twigs of the cassine1 or ,ilex yupon40 ,he mentions no other ingredients1 but other observers claim that the ,iris versicolor 7blue flag7 and sometimes the ,lobelia inflata were used4 ,my opinion is that1 when used in their wars or religious festivals1 other ingredients were used1 for it is represented as powerfully purgative and emetic4 ,yet1 on the other hand1 we are told that the two species of ,ilex cassine and dahoon possess these qualities4 ,the ,i4 cassine is called by some botanists ,ilex vomitoria4 ,on social occasions the black drink was probably made of the leaves of the cassine alone1 or made much weaker4 ,jones writes3 ,the ,mico councillors or warriors meet every day in the public square1 sit and drink acee 7assi71 a strong decoction of the cassine yupon1 called by traders black drink1 talk of the news1 the public and domestic concerns1 etc4 ,they have a regular ceremony for making as well as delivering the acee to all who attend the square4 ,the black drink made by the ,seminoles is described as 8nauseous to the smell and taste1 and emetic and purgative40 ,it is a mixture and not brewed of the cassine alone4 ,all our beverages1 such as tea1 coffee1 mat1 and even chocolate1 when drank very strong are capable of causing diuresis1 purging1 and vomiting4 ,one peculiarity of the drinking of the black drink is that1 so far as ,i can ascertain1 it was not used at their meals as we use tea and coffee1 but wholly as a social beverage or at festivals and other public occasions4 ,i do not think the women were allowed to drink it1 at least not publicly4 ,authorities differ on this point4 ,among the ,creeks the women sometimes prepared the black drink1 but ,narvaez writes that the ,indians on the coast of what is now ,texas did not allow a woman to come near it during its preparation4 ,that a beverage containing caffeine should fall into disuse and become almost forgotten is a singular fact4 ,the use of mat has not decreased from the time of the conquest of ,south ,america by ,europeans4 ,the reason why the latter is still in use and the former not lies1 perhaps1 in the fact that the ,europeans in ,south ,america mixed with the natives1 married1 and adopted their customs1 while the ,english and ,french who settled the ,gulf ,states did not associate with the ,indians1 and adhered to the use of ,chinese tea4 ,now that we know that the leaf of the cassine contains caffeine or theine1 can its use as a beverage be revived8 ,it is not as pleasant in odor and taste as ,thea sinensis1 and this may be against it2 on the other hand1 it seems to have some salutary properties which the latter does not possess1 and may1 perhaps1 be far more cheaply obtained4 ,illustration3 ,distribution of the ,ilex cassine1 indicated by dotted portions along coast line4 ,a rough estimate can be made as to the number of square miles upon which it grows4 ,estimating the coast line from the ,james ,river1 in ,virginia1 to the ,rio ,grande1 in ,texas--about #b1jjj miles--and multiplying this by #bj miles1 the extent of its growth inland1 we get a total of about #dj1jjj square miles4 ,on this area could be picked an immense quantity of the leaves1 and if the trees are not destroyed in the picking the crops could be harvested every year4 ,no estimate can be approximated even of the amount of the crop of leaves which could be gathered1 because we can not estimate the number of trees on this area4 ,it would seem possible that further inquiries on this point and careful experiments in cultivation and manipulation might result in furnishing our market with a product which would be found in many cases an acceptable and useful substitute for the more expensive imported teas4 ,,footnotes3 #a ,this was written before ,professor ,venable's recent investigations1 hereafter referred to4 #b ,prof4 ,w4 ,trelease1 of the ,shaw ,school of ,botany1 ,st4 ,louis1 ,mo41 has written an excellent synopsis of the genus ,ilex in the ,united ,states embracing #ad species4 #c ,this was written before ,professor ,venable's recent investigations1 hereafter referred to4 #d ,vol4 ,,ii1 p4 #ci1 8,elisha ,mitchell ,scientific ,society40 #e ,only when drunk in great quantity4--,h4 #f ,this is the ,prinus glaber of ,linnus sp4 pl4 p4 #dga and ,cassena vera ,floridanorum1 ,catesby's ,carolinas1 #b t4 #eg4 ,transcriber's ,notes ,obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected4 ,variations in accents have been standardised but all other spelling and punctuation remains unchanged4 ,italics are represented thus italic4