Extent and Produce of (he Tea-Flantations in. Assam. 133 



believe they are equally productive ; although, if I leaned to- 

 wards any side with my limited experience, I should say that 

 the low land, such as at Kahung, which is not so low as ever 

 to be inundated by the strongest rise in the river, is the best. 

 The plants seem to love and court moisture, not from stag- 

 nant pools, but running streams. The Kahmig ti-acts have the 

 water in and around them ; they are all in heavy tree-jungles, 

 which makes it very expensive to clear theia. An extent of 

 300 by 300 will cost from 200 to 300 rupees ; i. e. according 

 to the manner in which the miserable opium-smoking Assamese 

 work. This alone ought to point out the utility of introducing 

 a superior race of labourers, who would not only work them- 

 selves, but encourage their women and children to do the 

 same ; — in plucking and sorting leaves, they might be profit- 

 ably turned to account for both parties. This I have not been 

 able to instil into the heads of the Assamese, who will not 

 permit their Avomen to come into the tea-gardens. Indeed, 

 unless more labourers can be furnished, a large amount of tea 

 must not be looked for at present. Last season it was with 

 the greatest difiiculty that I could get a sufficient niunber of 

 hands to gather the leaves. The plucking of the leaves may 

 appear to many a very easy and light employment, but there 

 are not a few of our coolies who would much rather be em- 

 ployed on any other job ; the standing in one position so many 

 hours occasions swellings in the legs, as om* plants are not like 

 those of China only three feet high, but double that size, so 

 that one must stand upright to gather the leaves. The Chi- 

 nese pluck theirs squatting down. We lie under a great dis- 

 advantage in not having regular men to pluck the leaves; 

 those that have ])een taught to do so, can pluck twice as many 

 as those that have not, and we can seldom get hold of the same 

 men two seasons running. I am of opinion that our trees will 

 become of a smaller and more convenient size after a few years' 

 cultivation ; because, trimming of the plants and taking all 

 the young leaves as soon as they appear, month after month, 

 and year after year, and the plants being deprived of the rich 

 soil they had been living on from time unknown, must soon 

 tell upon tliem. Transplanting also helps to stunt and shorten 

 the growth of these plants. The Chinese declared to me, 



