Extent and Produce of the Tea-Plantations in Assam. 159 



sorry to say Ave have not been able this year to get a leaf from 

 them, on account of the disturbances that have lately occurred 

 there ; nor do 1 believe we shall get any next year, unless vv^e 

 establish a post at Ningrew, which, I think, is the only effec- 

 tual way to keep the country quiet, and secure our tea. The 

 tea from these tracts is said by the Chinamen to be very fine. 

 Some of the tracts are very extensive, and many may run for 

 miles into the jmigles for what we know; the whole of the 

 country is capable of being turned into a vast tea-garden, the 

 soil being excellent, and well adapted for the growth of tea. 

 On both sides of the Buri-Dehing river, as will be seen by 

 the map, the tea grows indigenous ; it may be traced from 

 tract to tract to Hookum, thus forming a chain of tea-tracts 

 from the Irrawaddy to the borders of China, east of Assam. 

 Ever since my residence at Sudiya, this has been confirmed 

 year after year by many of my Kamptee, Singpho, and De- 

 waneah acquaintances, who have traversed this route. It is, 

 therefore, important for us to look well to our eastern frontier, 

 on account of our capability to extend our tea-cultivation in 

 that direction. England alone consumes 31,829,620 lb., nearly 

 four laks of maunds, annually. To supply so vast a quantity 

 of tea, it will be necessary to cultivate all the hills and val- 

 leys of Assam ; and, on this very account, a post at Ningrew 

 becomes doubly necessary. A few years hence, it may be 

 found expedient to advance this frontier post to the top of the 

 Patkal hill, the boundary line of our eastern frontier. Any 

 rupture with Burmah would add to our tea trade, by taking 

 from them Hookum and Mimkoom, and having the Irrawaddy 

 as our boundary line. These countries are nominally under 

 the Burmese, as they pay a small annual tribute ; but this can 

 never be collected without sending an armed force. They 

 are said to be thinly inhabited, the population being kept down 

 by the constant broils and wars A\hich one petty place makes 

 upon another, for the sake of plunder. All the inhabitants 

 drink tea, but it is not manufactured in our way : few, it is 

 said, cultivate the plant. 1 have, for years, been trying to get 

 some seeds or plants from them, but have never succeeded, on 

 account of the disturbed state in which they live. I'he leaves 



