THE TECHNOLOGIST. [Apkil 1, 1864. 



424 TEA PLANTATIONS IN INDIA. 



to give an increase to the remaining tea makers. This, however, has 

 "been done without any increase to the establishment, the increased pay- 

 being more than met by that of the men who have resigned. 



"From the Kalee in Kumaon to the Bavee in the Kohi&tan of the 

 Punjaub, the cultivation is being actively and energetically carried on 

 both by European and native capitalists ; and the day is not far distant 

 when we may expect to see tea exported from the British Himalayas as 

 its staple article of produce, and the hills made lucrative, instead of as at 

 present a drag on the revenues of the country. 



" In a few years the Dehra Dhoon, the most attractive spot in the 

 North West Provinces to the European settler, will become a great tea 

 garden. In every direction in it tea plantations are springing up, and 

 the two things wanted to make them there universal are, in the eastern 

 Dhoon drainage, and the western Dhoon water for drinking purposes 

 and irrigation. 



Early in 1856, the tea plant was discovered wild in the province of 

 Cachar, and a reward of 5/. was given to the native who made the dis- 

 covery. Mr. G. Williamson, (who had already a tea plantation in Assam) 

 undertook the experimental culture in Cachar, and obtained a grant of 

 742 acres, rent free, for sixteen years, being one year longer than the 

 period granted by the rules of Assam waste lands, in consideration of 

 his being the first applicant. The subsequent rent was to be 10 guineas 

 for the next ten years, and 20 guineas for seventy-three years. 



The following tracts of thea lands are officially reported to have been 

 granted as early as the spring of 1858, to companies and individuals in 

 Cachar ; had we the latest official returns at command, the progress 

 shown would have been much more extensive. 



Acres. 



Bengal Tea Company 10,510 



Silchar Tea Company 13,102 



Cachar Company 27,000 



Assam Company 7,464 



Equitable Tea Company . . . .2,817 



Messrs. Borrodaile and Co 9,549 



Mr. Foley 4,809 



Messrs. Wyse and Co 3,708 



„ Moran and Co 3,031 



„ Pogose and Thomas .... 1,500 



Mr. Francis Tydd 2,836 



„ E. Wright 500 



„ G. Williamson 742 



„ Parker 139 



87,707 



