502 Report on the manufacture of Tea, and on the [June, 



nor yet Kujudoo's or Ningreiv's. I feel confident that the two 

 former run over the hills and join, or nearly join, some of our tracts 

 in the Muttuck country. Nor have I seen the end of Kahung tract, 

 all about that part of the country being one vast succession of Tea 

 from Rungagurra on the Debrew, to Jaipore on the Burt Dehing. 

 It may be seen on inspecting the map how thickly the Tea localitiea 

 are scattered — those that are known ; and they are but a small portion 

 compared to those that are unknown. There is the Namsong tract on 

 the Naga hills, the largest that has yet been seen, and the extent of 

 which is not ascertained. The tracts on the Gubind hills are unknown ; 

 and this is likewise the case with Haut Holah and Cheridoo ; so that 

 there is a large field for improvement throughout, to say nothing of 

 the Singho tracts, which may be found to be one unbounded link to 

 Hookum ; and who knows but it crosses the Irrawaddy to China ? 

 Many Tea tracts I know have been cut down in ignorance by the 

 natives, to make room for the rice field, for firewood, and fences, but 

 many of these tracts have sprung up again, more vigorous than before. 

 Witness that at Ningrew, where the natives say that every thing was 

 cut down, and the land planted with rice, except on the high ground. 



With respect to the Tea plant being most productive on high or low 

 ground, I cannot well say, as all our tracts are on the plains ; but from 

 what little I have seen of the hill tracts, I should suppose they were 

 not more productive. In China the hill tracts produce the best Teas, 

 and they may do the same here. Almost all my tracts on the plains 

 are nearly on the same level, I should think. Nudwa perhaps is a lit- 

 tle higher than Tingri, and Tingri a little higher than Kahung, but 

 I believe they are equally productive ; although if I leaned towards 

 any side, with my limited experience, I should say that the low land, 

 such as at Kahung, which is not so low as ever to be inundated by the 

 strongest rise in the river, is the best. The plants seem to love and court 

 moisture, not from stagnant pools, but running streams. The Kahung 

 tracts have the water in and around them ; they are all in heavy tree- 

 jungles, which makes it very expensive to clear them. An extent of 

 300 by 300 will cost from 200 to 300 rupees ; i. e. according to the 

 manner in which the miserable Opium-smoking Assamese work. This 

 alone ought to point out the utility of introducing a superior race of 

 labourers, who would not only work themselves, but encourage their 

 women and children to do the same ;— in plucking and sorting leaves 

 they might be profitably turned to account for both parties. This 

 I have not been able to instil into the heads of the Assamese, 

 who will not permit their women to come into the Tea gardens. 

 Indeed unless more labourers can be furnished, a larger amount 



