in Assam with magic rapidity. The Company's capital 

 had literally been poured out upon the earth, and 

 there allowed to rot. With the keen eye of an expe- 

 rienced man of business, however, Mr. de Mornay 

 saw in the devastation before him, the germs of 

 success. Instead therefore of advising the company 

 to wind up its affairs, he at once set about rectify- 

 ing the errors that had been committed. But to 

 make a tea garden, is a matter of time, and 

 consequently for some years the position of: the 

 Company, in public opinion, did not improve 

 (1846-7-8.) 



In the mean time Government, having performed 

 it's task, and finding its only remaining garden a 

 Very unprofitable and very expensive affair, sold 

 it for a song to a Chinaman, and left the field 

 altogether to private speculators (1849.) Now it 

 might naturally be supposed that if any one would 

 succeed with tea, a Chinaman was the man ; but 

 in this case it was not so. Among, for that was 

 iiis name, most signally failed, and shortly after 

 resold his bargain for half the purchase money 

 fts. 475 ! 



The prospects of tea in Assam, so bright in 

 the commencement, were now dimmed almost to 

 extinction ; and had it not been for the energy 

 and perseverance of a few individuals, it is possible 

 that the cultivation of the plant would have been 

 abandoned altogether. Among them should be 



