— 199 — 



we will discuss more fully later on. Besides, the possibility that Jenkins's 

 small leaves were derived from an aged tree '), should be kept in view. 

 Wlien the important news of the discovery became known, Gordon 

 was called back from China, in February 1835, and a depiitation, consisting 

 of drs. N. Wallich, W. Griffith and J. Me. Clelland, was directed to 

 make local researches. This was done from August 1835 tiil April 1836. 

 An extensive report was made up '). The tea plant had been foiind 3): 



. 1« in Kujoo (Kuju, Kutchu ?), 

 2° near Kujoodoo, 



3° near Ningrew (Negryam, Negrigam), 

 4° near Nadowar (Naddoa, Nudua), 

 5" in Tingrei (Tingri), 

 6° in Gubroo (Gabro) Purbut, 

 7° near Borhath, 

 8° near Cherabei (Churabai), 



besides, in Burma: 

 9° on a hill range between Hookhong and Mogoung valley^), ,, close 



to the Dupai-beng-kheoung, or Tea tree Nullah" (Griffith 1847 



p. 134), 

 10° near Bamoo (Bhamo) on the Irawaddy ^). 



The first locality possessed the largest plants, 6 — 8 feet (2 — 2V2 

 meters) on an average, some of them, however, 40 — ôOfeet (l3 — 17 meters) 

 high; the plants of the sixth spot were more bushy. The leaves (rather 

 aged) were dark green, rather thick, and 10 — 20 cM. long. As to the tenth 

 locality, Griffith remarks (p. 159): „It is curions that the spécimens 

 „were certainly superior to any of those from more westerly localities; 

 „the leaves being not only smaller, but of a much finer texture". 6) That 

 he considers thèse small leaves to be superior to larger ones, is due to 

 their doser resemblance to China tea (see below). The dénomination „tea 

 forests" as sometimes applied to the wild tea localities, is not appropriate 



') The size of the tea leaves decreases with increasiiig âge of the tree. 



') W. Griffith 1838. A complète journal of his travels is to be found in his post- 

 humous papers (Griffith 1847, chapter 1 — Vil); a map has been added to his 

 Works of 1838 and 1848. 



3) C. f. the map Fig. 2, showing the first-found localities in red. 



•*) Hannay (v. R. Boileau Pemberton 1837, p. 268) foiuid the tea plant „very plentiful" 

 near Tsadozout, an islet in the Mogoung river (situated, according to Pemberton's 

 map, Long. 96' 20' E, Lat. 26" N.); — .,the leaf is large, and resembies that sold 

 „in Ava as pickled tea". As appears from KlEFER 1902, p.U, Mr. Hannay has 

 published some ,, Notes on the productive capacities of the Shan countries", 1836 

 (unknown to me), where he mentions tea cuitivation among the Polong tribe in 

 the hills of the Moongneet and Senvee province. In the Hookhong valley itself 

 Griffith (1847, p. 129) found tea only near Shellingket. 



5) In the environment of this town, tea has been noticed several times, as we will see. 



t^) Likewise 1847, p. 142. There we find the observation, moreover, that the leaves 

 „occurred both serrate^ and entire", which surely deserves attention. 



