18 INDIGENOUS IN CHINA. 



kiang to the countries flanking the south-western 

 frontier of China, where this range falls in with, 

 or, agreeably to the opinion of a well-informed and 

 scientific author, Dr. Royle, forms a continuation 

 of, the Himalaya range. But in those countries, 

 as in every part of China, if found in the plains, 

 or in the vicinity of habitations, and cultivated 

 grounds, it may fairly be assumed that it was 

 brought and propagated there by the agency and 

 industry of man. 



Hence it appears that the tea tree is not only 

 indigenous in China, but that it is cultivated 

 throughout the empire, in the northern climate 

 of Pe-chy-ly, and the southern one of Quong- 

 tong ; and that every province probably produces 

 much of its own tea for common domestic pur- 

 poses, though not for festive and ceremonial occa- 

 sions. If there be any exceptions to this suppo- 

 sition, it may be the provinces of Pe-chy-ly, Shan- 

 sy, and Shen-sy. It also grows at Japan, Corea, 

 and the Le-kieu Islands, the island of Chusan, at 

 Tonkin, and in Cochin-China. Thus it extends 

 over the vast space of 28 degrees of latitude, and 

 30 degrees of longitude ; and, consequently, is sub- 

 ject to great variations of heat and cold, and other 

 differences of climate. 



