IXDIA TRIUMPHANT 43 



that tho ten-plant vras not by nature a shrub, but a 

 troo ; in some cases tho natural-growing .sporjmons 

 were found to bo from forty to fifty feet high. 



Whilst the Special Commission were pursuing tht ir 

 investigations in Assam, the secretary of the (Jcncral 

 Committee of Tea Culture was carrying out tho in- 

 structions with which he had been sent to China — 

 procuring seed and the services of skilled labourers. 

 As an outcome of his labours, there arrived in Calcutta, 

 early in 1S30, three Chinamen experienced in tho 

 preparation of black tea for the market. They were 

 immediately .sent off to Assam, and with their help 

 the first sample of Indian tea was manufactured in 

 British India. Twelve chests of this new variety of 

 the product were sent to Calcutta, and tluiue shipped 

 to England. The tea had been prepared under many 

 disadvantages, consequently it did not give a fair clue 

 as to what might be expected in the future ; neverthe- 

 less, tho report thereon by London exi^erts was de- 

 cidedly favourable, and general curiosity was aroused 

 thereby. 



In 1S3S the public were given a first chance of seeing 

 how they liked Indian tea. A small quantity of this 

 novelty was put up to public auction, and fetched 

 prices varying from KJs. to 34s. per lb. The Asiatic 

 Journal, in referring to tho reception it met with, re- 

 marked that : — 



'* The de<ision of the public, however, has not been 

 unanimous. Indies, parti(*ularly those of mature ago 

 and judgment, whose jurisdiction in all matters con- 

 nected with the tea-table ought not to be disputed, 

 were enthusiastic in their prai.ses of the new tea, but 

 many of the lords of creation, especially stout gentle- 



