mere ON: VE. 
GATHERING THE LEAVES. 
Ar the proper feafons for gathering the Tea leaves, la-- 
Bourers are hired, who are very quick in plucking them, being 
accuftomed to follow this employment as a means of their live-- 
lihood. ‘hey do not pluck them by handfuls, but carefully 
one by one; and, tedious as this may appear, each: perfon iS. 
able to collect from four to ten or fifteen pounds in one: day. 
The different periods in which the Jeaves are ufually gathered, . 
are particularly defcribed by Kampfer '. 
I. The firft commences at the middle ‘of the laft moon, ‘is 
mediately preceding the vernal equinox, which is the firftmonth — 
of the Japanefe year, and falls about the latter end of our 
February, or beginning of March. The leaves collected at 
this time are called Ficki Tsjaa, or powdered Tea, becaufe 
they are pulverifed and fipped’ in hot water (Sect. IX. 1). 
-Thefe tender young leaves are but a few days old when they 
are plucked; and, becaufe of their fcarcity and price, are: 
difpofed of. to princes and rich prople a ; and hence. this: 
Kind is:called Imperial Tea. 7 
* Ameenitat. Exotic. p, 618, et feq. Hiftory of see! Aipendic to’ Vol. I. 
p- 6, et ae 
A. fimilar: 
