140 BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 



history. The Ahum-Putty I have never been able to get 

 hold of; but this I know, that the information about the 

 Tea-plant pointed out by the old Norah man, as being 

 on the Tipum hill, is true; for I have cleared the tract 

 where it grew thickest, about 300 yards by 300, running 

 from the foot of the hill to the top. The old man told me 

 his father cut the plant down every third year, that he might 

 get the young leaves. 



" To the west of Gabrew, I did not find any Tea; but to 

 the westward of the Dhunseeree river I found a species, 

 though not the same as that we use- If the people on the 

 west side of the Dhunseeree river were acquainted with the 

 true leaf, I think Tea would be found. I planted it all 

 along the route I went, which may lead to its eventual dis- 

 covery ; but people should be sent to search for the plant 

 who are really acquainted with it. I think a vast quantity 

 of Tea would be brought to liirht if this were done ; our 

 tracts are distributed all over the country. 



" In giving a statement of the number of Tea tracts, when 

 I say that Tingri, or any other tract is so long and so broad, 

 it must be understood, that space to that extent only has been 

 cleared, being found to contain all the plants which grew 

 thickly together ; as it was not thought worth while at the 

 commencement of these experiments, to go to the expense ot 

 clearing any more of the forest for the sake of a few strag- 

 gling plants. If these straggling plants were followed up? they 

 would in all probability be found gradually becoming more 

 numerous, until you found yourself in another tract as thick 

 and as numerous as the one you left ; and if the straggling 

 plants of this new tract were traced, they would by degrees 

 disappear until not one was to be seen. But if you only 

 proceeded on through the jungles, it is ten to one that you 

 would come upon a solitary Tea-plant, a little further on 

 you would meet with another; until you gradually fo^m" 

 yourself in another new tract, as full of plants as the one you 

 had left, growing absolutely so thick as to impede each 

 other's growth. Thus I am convinced one migiit go on toi 



