334 The Indian Ten Plantations. 



been told that His Excellency the British Plenipotentiary at 

 Hong Kong, Sir John Davis, has been requested to send two 

 additional sets of Chinese tea manufacturers, also seeds from 

 all the most celebrated districts in China. The latter, on 

 arrival at Calcutta, are to be sent up letter dak, so that a 

 considei'able proportion, if not all, stand the chance of arriv- 

 ing in a vegetating condition. We were informed a short 

 time ago, that the manufactory of tea had commenced in the 

 Dhoon, but now learn that the information was premature ; 

 none was prepared there last season ; but the requisite build- 

 ings being now ready, it is hoped the manufacture will com- 

 mence next year (in April). It is intended, as soon as the 

 new " manipulators" arrive fi*om China, to send one set to 

 Kangra, which must ultimately become the most important 

 tea district, and to keep the other in the Dhoon. As soon 

 as the Kutturputtur canal, to which Lieutenant Hutchison 

 has been lately appointed, is cut, the superintendent of the 

 tea-grounds has been authorised to establish a large planta- 

 tion there. After he lias selected the land best adapted for 

 his pui'pose, (he remainder is to be sold to the highest bidder. 

 The Dherah Dhoon certainly possesses one advantage over 

 the hill-country beyond the Sutlej, and that consists in the 

 facility of transit presented by the Jumna and Ganges. At 

 Kangra, the distance from the plains is four marches ; but 

 these once got over, the Sutlej and Indus will afford an ex- 

 cellent outlet to Bombay. The arrangements now in pro- 

 gress will, in a iew years, put the government in possession 

 of vast tea-forests from the banks of the Kalee to Noorpore, 

 and those who formerly considered the idea of supplying the 

 home market with tea from India as a mere chimera, must 

 ere long be convinced that the thing is to be done. The 

 quantity of seeds produced in Gurvval and Kumaon this sea- 

 son, exceeded one Hundred maunds ; besides which, the tea- 

 plant is easily reared from cuttings and layers. The super- 

 intendent, to whom these extensive arrangements have been 

 entrusted, has been vested with unlimited power as to the 

 situation of sites, the appointment of cultivators, &c., and 

 the various officers, in whose districts he is now engaged, 



