OFF CHINA. 1752. 39 



began their voyage home. Every one leaped 

 for joy, and my Tea-Jhrub, which flood in a 

 pot, fell upon the deck during the firing of 

 the canons, and was thrown over-board with- 

 out my knowledge, after I had nurfed and 

 taken care of it a long while on board the fhip. 

 Thus I faw my hopes of bringing a growing 

 tea-tree to my countrymen at an end; a plea- 

 fure which no one in Europe has been able as 

 yet to feel, notwithstanding all poflible care 

 and expences. Some have brought tea-nuts 

 as they get them from the Chinefe ; but in cafe 

 they could get them frefh (which I very much 

 doubt), they are fpoiled on the voyage : others 

 have bought tea-fhrubs in pots, which they 

 commonly get in flower juft before their de- 

 parture from China, but they withered about 

 the Cape of Good Hope. 



If the Europeans were themfelves allowed 

 to go into the tea -woods, and to gather there 

 fuch feeds as are neither too dry nor unripe, 

 nor boiled, they might be kept in any thing; 

 but without this they can only get fhrubs (in 

 the factories) in little flower pots, with too lit- 

 tle earth, or with fuch as is not fit for their 

 tender roots. The tea-fhrub would doubtlefs 

 habituate itfelf to our climate; but if we want 

 D 4 to 



