AND that I may observe some sort of Method in the Prosecution of my Discourse, I shall, in the first place, give my Reader the Names and Descriptions of it, from the several Authors who have mentioned it; and then I shall offer a more exact Account, from my own Knowledge, of the Plant, Flower, and Fruit, for the better understanding of the aforesaid Figure: after which, I shall set down the Time and Manner of its first Appearance in England, with its Virtues and Uses. To which I shall add some necessary Observations relating to the Original Place of its Growth, and Manner of Trading for it; and conclude with some Remarks I have made of its Culture in the Amsterdam Garden.
JACOB COTOVICUS, in his Travels to Jerusalem, Anno 1598. mentions the Coffee to have been at that time a Drink much in use amongst the Turks; and tells us, that some of the Arabians called it Cahua, and others Bunnu and Bunchi, but gives us no Description of the Plant. He is the first Author that I find to have mentioned this Liquor.
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.
PALUDAMUS, after him, mentions it by the Name of Choava; and Rauwolfius calls it Chaube; but neither of them do make any Remarks upon it, that are worthy to be communicated to my Reader; for these Authors writ near a hundred Years since, when Coffee was little known to the Europeans.
SANDYS, in his Travels through the Turkish Empire, met with this Drink at Constantinople: He says, “It was sold in many publick Places there, which he calls Coffa-Houses, where the Turks sit chatting most of the Day, and sip of a Drink called Coffa, in little China Dishes, as hot as they can suffer it; black as Soot, and tasting not much unlike 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.
JOHN BAUHINE calls it Bon vel Ban Arbor.
CASPER BAUHINE describes it thus; Euonymo Similis Ægyptica fructu Baccis Lauri simili.
Mr. RAY, in his Histor. Plantar. pag. 1691. calls it Coffee Frutex, ex cujus Fructu fit Potus. He had not seen the Plant, but discourses largely on its Virtues, which I shall give an Account of in the proper Place.
MONSIEUR PONCETT, in his Voyage to Æthiopia, makes it a Native of that Country; it was, as he says, transplanted from thence to Arabia Felix, and at this time the Æthiopians cultivate it only as a Curiosity: he describes it to be like the Myrtle in its Leaves, but larger and tufted; the Fruit like Pistachio Nut, green at first, and of a darker Colour when it is ripe: and this they call Coffee.