PREFACE. IX 



to any preparation for appearing before the public 

 as an author. 



Still, having by labour, perseverance, and long- 

 continued exertion, expressly directed to this sub- 

 ject, collected something which may be useful, and 

 seeing no probability of the same being obtained in 

 a more effectual manner, and exhibited under more 

 attractive forms, I feel induced, with an absence, 

 however, of all pretension, to bring that something 

 forward. 



It will be seen by dates incidentally adverted to, 

 that the facts, and most of the materials of this 

 work, were established and collected thirty years 

 ago. As regards the processes of manipulation, 

 they were at all times noted down by me during 

 the performance of the several stages of the pro- 

 cess. These facts, as well as other materials, were 

 derived from conversation with growers and mani- 

 pulators from the tea districts ; from written 

 documents furnished by Chinese ; from published 

 works in the same language diligently sought out ; 

 and also from correspondence with a Spanish mis- 

 sionary long resident in the province of Fokien. 

 These were all put into their present form full 

 twenty years ago, and were read to one or two 

 friends during my residence in China. They have 

 since that time received very little alteration, either 

 in arrangement or expression. 



They were not, however, so arranged with any 

 view to immediate publication : on the contrary, I 



