8 TEA 



competition with China in the matter of tea-growing. 

 The first British tea-plantations were laid out in India 

 in 1833, and by 1854 Indian tea had won considerable 

 favour in British markets. India's success induced other 

 British colonies to plant tea, and the annual output 

 of the product by all competitors became astoundingly 

 large, the selling price was brought down by compe- 

 tition among the producers, and the demand grew not 

 only because tea could be purchased cheaply, but 

 because people of many nationalities and all classes 

 rapidly learnt to appreciate both the flavour and the 

 beneficial properties of tea as a beverage. 



CHAPTER III 



EN ROUTE TO A CEYLON TEA ESTATE 



Three weeks have gone by since we met for a chat over 

 a cup of tea, and decided to take a trip together to 

 the tea-producing parts of the world. Meanwhile we 

 have had such a happy and interesting time aboard a 

 P. and 0. steamer, that now we are about to go ashore 

 at the first port of call whence we can travel in comfort 

 to a tea-plantation, our feelings are divided between 

 excitement over treats in store and sorrow at leaving 

 the ship. 



Three weeks ago, the shipmates to whom we shall 

 soon be saying " Good-bye " were all strangers to us, 

 we were strangers to them, and most of them were 

 strangers to each other. Yet before the English shore 

 had vanished from sight, aU this good ship's passengers 

 were on friendly speaking terms. The Bay broke the 

 ice — or, rather, the thought of it. Would it be very 



