220 
of the plant yielding Lao tea; also aipe, about half a pound in 
weight, in a dry state, z the Aree: article as prepared ready for 
chewing. 
I have, &c. 
- 2 ces Lister, K.C.M.G., (Signed) ^ D. Morris, 
eign Office, S.W. Assistant Director. 
[Enelosure.] 
uei in PAPER on the Laos SrATEs, Urrer Siam, by E. M. 
Satow, C.M.G. Journal of the Society of Arts. January 22nd, 
1892, p page 194. 
** The path at first winds round the top of a pine-clad spur stretching 
towards Doi Suthép and then plunges down a declivity in a north-east 
sia bringing us to the hamlet of Pong-yeng. Just at c eem 
passed a plantation of mieng or Lao 
call d these emen pa-mieng or tea-forest; if pa be rendered literally 
this term causing it to be generally supposed that the mieng 
But of its being a species of tea there can be no doubt whatever. The 
Laos do not drink the — but prepare the leaf for chewing by 
burying it in pits, and it is one of their indispensable luxuries. You see 
a man put a lump of the r rae leaves in one cheek, which he leaves 
there while he proceeds to chew betel or smoke a cigarette, looking 
for all the world as if his face were distorted by the mumps. 
Foreien Orrice to Royar Garvens, Kew, 
Sir, Foreign Office, September 8th, 1892. 
I am directed by the Earl of Rosebery to transmit to you the 
enclosed vedi of a despatch from Her Majesty’s Minister in Siam 
respecting the specimens Lao tea which were asked for in your letter 
of tlie ath of February las 
The specimens have end despatched from eii and will be 
forwarded to you as soon as they arrive eo Office. 
m, &e. 
(Signed) T. H. SANDERSON. 
-W. T. Thiselton-Dyer, A «> ALG; 
Kew Gardens, 

[Enclosure.] 
Mr Lorp British vo at a Vane ee July 1892. 
Wirtu reference to -— Lordship's des eoa of the 11th 
cp tn last, stating that omens, ofthe R Royal ns, Kew, 
= 
