55 



the same name, the whole of which is occupied in the 

 culture of the tea for the Emperor's use. This moun- 

 tain is entirely surrounded with a wide ditch to keep 

 out both men and beasts. The plantations are made 

 in regular rows, and when the leaves are gathered, 

 the men employed for that purpose wear gloves, and 

 are obliged to bathe two or three times a day, lest the 

 delicate flavour of the leaf should be injured in ga- 

 thering. 



In other parts of this country the tea is usually 

 sown in the month of February, in the borders of fields 

 which are cultivated with other produce j not in a con- 

 tinued hedge, but at moderate intervals, both that its 

 shade may not be injurious to the general crop, and 

 that the leaves may be the more easily collected. As 

 the seeds are very subject to be damaged, from six to 

 twelve are put into one hole, a fifth part not being ex- 

 pected to grow. When the tree is three years old the 

 leaves may be plucked ; when it is seven years old it 

 no longer bears any quantity, and is then usually cut 

 down to the root, when the stool sends forth many 

 new shoots, which afford a plentiful supply. Some- 

 times this operation is deferred till the tenth year. 



The tea is gathered at three separate times : the 

 tenderest leaves, of but a few days growth, are ga- 

 thered in February or the beginning of March -, the 

 second gathering is in the beginning of April; and the 

 third about June, when the leaves are full grown. 

 The tea is afterwards prepared by drying it in a stove 

 in shallow iron pans 5 and the supposition of its ever 



