REPORT OF M. GUILLEMIN. 3 



tion on the culture, mode of picking and preparing the Tea. 

 As this shrub is grown in several plantations, about two days 

 journey distant from Rio, in different directions, I hired a 

 lodging at St Theresa, sufficiently contiguous to all the 

 establishments I meant to visit, and farther recommended by 

 having a small garden attached to the house, where I could 

 deposit the growing plants of Tea, and sow seeds. During 

 the month of November, except when hindered by slight indis- 

 positions incidental to the Brazilian climate, I pursued ray 

 researches, and principally in the charming vallies of the 

 Tijuka and Gavia mountains, where, together with Coffee^ 

 their principal product, the most valuable plants of the equa- 

 torial region are cultivated. 



In the middle of November I had an opportunity of ob- 

 serving the method pursued when culling the Tea, which is 

 performed by black slaves, chiefly women and children. 

 They carefully selected the tenderest and pale green leaves, 

 nipping off with their nails the young leaf bud, just below 

 where the first or second leaf was unfolded. One whole field 

 had already undergone this operation; nothing but Tea 

 shrubs stripped of their foliage remained. The inspector 

 assured me that the plant receives no injury from this pro- 

 cess, and that the harvest of leaves was to become permanent 

 by carefully regulating it, so that the foliage should have 

 grown again on the first-stripped shrubs at the period when 

 the leaves of the last plants were pulled off. About 12,000 

 Tea shrubs are grown in this garden; they are regularly 

 planted in quincunxes, and stand about one metre distant 

 from each other; the greater number are stunted and shabby 

 looking, probably owing to the aspect of the ground, which lies 

 low, on the level of the sea, and exposed to the full rays of a 

 burning sun ; perhaps the quality of the soil may have some- 

 thing to do with it, though this is apparently similar to what 

 prevails in the province of Rio Janeiro. This soil, which is 

 highly argillaceous, and strongly tinged with tritoxyde of 

 iron, is formed by the decomposition of Gneiss or granite 

 rocks. The flat situation of this Tea ground is unfavourable 



