44 Discovery of the Genuine [Jan. 



my replying to your communication to the length I could wish or the 

 subject deserves. 



2. My little acquaintance with Assam will not admit of my replying 

 to all your questions, but from general information and my own obser- 

 vation, I am so fully impressed with the belief of the fitness of the 

 mountainous region which divides Cachar from Assam for the growth of 

 tea, that I beg to attempt to call the attention of the Committee to that 

 region in the most forcible manner I can, with a view to its examina- 

 tion by a competent individual. 



3. The mountainous tract I allude to, commences from the east of 

 the country of the Jynteah Raja, and continues always increasing in 

 elevation until it reaches to the eastern end of the valley of Assam, and 

 is so far under the controul of British authority, immediately between 

 Cachar and Assam completely so, and farther on more or less directly 

 or indirectly. The part entirely under us ranges from 6 to 8000 feet 

 greatest heights, and farther east the mountains attain a height of 

 10,000 feet, and the valleys and beds of streams are from 2500 to 4000 

 feet above the sea. From the end of the valley of As^am this ceases 

 to be merely a west and east range, its direct continuation passes into 

 China into the tea countries of Sechuen and Yunnan : the northern 

 bend in the latitude of Sadiya meets a brancn of the snowy mountains, 

 and the southern divides off into the two mountainous ranges, which 

 border the Irrawady on either side, from its sources to the sea. 



4. Every part of this mountainous country that I have visited, presents 

 nearly a uniform geological structure, being almost entirely composed 

 of clay-slate, and every where nearly of the same appearance, very much 

 broken and disintegrated, so much so as to be seldom visible in mass, 

 and being covered with a deep coat of soil and luxuriant vegetation 

 even on the greatest heights. 



5. Camellias are found in every part of this hill country, and within 

 our jurisdiction in the Singpho district of Beesa, a coarse variety of the 

 tea plant is, as I am informed, undoubtedly indigenous. A plant was 

 given to me at Sadiya, which I have reason to suppose, was a genuiue 

 tea tree, and I intended to have brought it to Calcutta for examination, 

 but I received it in a sickly state, and from the prevalence of great heat 

 I was unable to succeed in taking it to the presidency. I shall endea- 

 vour to procure another plant or two for the satisfaction of the Com- 

 mittee. However, having no doubt myself of the fact of the tea shrub 

 being found wild in the eastern parts of Assam, I would beg to re- 

 commend the expediency of some well-qualified person being at once 

 sent up for the identification of the plant beyond any objection, for 

 the examination of the soil in which it grows as reported, and an in- 

 spection of the tract of mountains between Cachar and Assam. 



