Cuar. XX.] BLACK TEA DISTRICTS. 879 
the whole striking the mind with wonder and 
admiration. 
Among these mountains, and at a height of 2000 
and 3000 feet above the level of the sea, I found 
the black tea district, which I was anxious to see, 
and the existence of which had been denied by my 
affectionate friends the mandarins. Having been 
in several green tea countries further north, I was 
desirous to ascertain clearly whether the plant was 
the same species in both places, or whether, as 
generally believed, they were different. I have 
stated in a former chapter that the tea-plant of the 
northern green tea districts is the true Thea viridis 
of botanists. I was now fortunate enough not 
only to find an extensive tea district, but also to 
be present when the natives were picking and 
preparing the leaves; and I not only procured 
specimens for my herbarium, but also a living 
plant, which L afterwards took to the green tea hills 
of the north, and found, on minute comparison, 
that it was identical with the Thea viridis. In 
other words, the black and green teas which 
generally come to England from the northern 
provinces of China are made from the same 
species, and the difference of colour, flavour, &c. 
is solely the result of the different modes of pre- 
paration. 
In this region I met with no plants which I had 
not seen before in other parts of the country. I 
observed the lance-leaved pine (Cunninghamia lan- 
ceolata) in great abundance ; indeed, this species and 
