REVISITS THE TEA LOCALITY AT TINGREI. 



53 



Crossed the Deboro by a rude wooden bridge. I found no particu- 

 lar plants en route. 



Dec. \6th. — Reached Rangagurrah, after a march of about an 

 hour : and halted for the day. 



Dec. 18th. — Started to visit Sedgwickia at the wood, where we 

 found it in February last. Reached the spot, which is at least ten 

 miles from Rangagurrah, in two hours and a half. The trees had 

 evidently not flowered last year ; many of the buds were of some 

 size, and such contained flower buds, each capitula being in addi- 

 tion enveloped in three bractese densely beset with brown hair. The 

 natives assured me, it will flower about April, or at the sowing of 

 halee. When we before found it, the buds were all leaf buds, which 

 at once accounts for the non-appearance of flowers. Gathered 

 Sabia in the Sedgwickia wood. The Major* arrived before I got back. 



Dec. 20th. — Revisited the tea locality of Tingrei, which we reach- 

 ed after a five hours' march. The portion of it formerly cleared is 

 now quite clean : all the plants, and they are very abundant, have a 

 shrubby shady appearance ; the branches being numerous, so that 

 the first aspect is favourable. But one soon detects an evident 

 coarseness in the leaves, the tint of which is likewise much too 

 yellow ; altogether their appearance is totally unlike that of teas 

 growing in their natural shade. That part, and the more extensive 

 one which we first visited in February last, is now clearing ; almost 

 all the large trees have been felled, and all the underwood removed. 

 The branches, &c. are piled in heaps and set fire to, much to the 

 detriment of the plants : all the tea trees likewise have been 

 felled. My conviction is, that the tea will not flourish in open 

 sunshine ; at any rate, subjection to this should be gradual. Fur- 

 ther, that cutting the main stem is detrimental, not only inducing 

 long shoots, but most probably weakening the flavour of the leaves. 

 It appears to me to be highly desirable, that an intelligent superin- 

 tendent should reside on the spot, and that he should at least be a 

 good practical gardener, with some knowledge of the science also. 



Dec. 24th. — Reached Suddiya. The country passed through 

 was, for the first two days, of the same description as before ; i. e. 

 rather high grassy plains with belts of jungle, and intervening low 

 very swampy ravines. The soil precisely the same as that of the 

 tea localities. The last march was, with the exception of Chykwar, 

 through low damp dense jungle. 



* Probably Major K. Bruce of the Rajah's service, one of the Superintendents 

 of Tea Cultivation. 



