96 



FROM HOOKHOOM TO AVA. 



is dry, and tolerably well drained ; it appears to have been formerly 

 wooded ; at present the environs are occupied by undershrubs. 

 I have observed no peculiar botanical feature. Among the under- 

 shrubs are Phyllantha? 2, Apocynea arborescens, Gelonium, Com- 

 bretum, Strychnos, Vitex, Melastoma. When I say undershrubs, 

 I mean that such is their present appearance. The only new plant 

 is an elegant Capparis, subscandens, floribus albis, odoratis demum 

 filamentisque purpureo-roseis. About old Pagodas, Pladera of Moul- 

 main, a Labiata, Stemodia, and Andropogon occur. 



The cultivated plants are those of the coast, Hyperanthera Moringa, 

 Bixa Orellana, Calotropis gigantea, Artocarpus integrifolia, a Phyl- 

 lanthus, Cordia Myxa, Carica Papaya, Citrus medica, Plantains, a 

 large and coarse Custard Apple, Mango, Zyziphus, Cocos, Taliera, 

 Agati. 



The climate is dry and sultry, the diurnal range of the Thermometer 

 being from 28 to 32°. At this season, viz. at 6J- a.m. from 66 to 68 ; 

 4 p.m from 94 to 96. North winds are common, daily commencing 

 from that quarter, or terminating there. They are not accompanied 

 by much rain, although the weather is unsettled. 



May 2nd. — A Khukeen whom Bayfield sent for tea returned, bring- 

 ing with him many specimens out of flower. The striking differ- 

 ence between this and the tea I have hitherto seen, consists in the 

 smallness and finer texture of the leaves. For although a few of 

 the specimens had leaves measuring six by three inches, yet the 

 generality, and these were mature, measured from four to three, by 

 two to three. As both entire and serrated leaves occur, the finer 

 texture was more remarkable. The bitterness, as well as the peculiar 

 flavour were most evident. Young leaves were abundant. 



The Khukeens make no use of the tea. The Chinese here talk 

 of this as the jungle tea, and affirm that it cannot be manufactured 

 into a good article. They talk of the valuable sorts as being very 

 numerous, and all as having small leaves. Neither here nor at 

 Mogoung are there any real Chinamen, nor is there any body who 

 understands the process of manufacturing tea. The caked tea is not 

 made to adhere by the serum of sheep's blood, it adheres owing to 

 being thus packed before it is dry. The plain around Bamoo is inter- 

 sected by ravines, which afford good paddy cultivation ; no large trees 

 occur within l£ mile of the town. At this distance a large Dipte- 

 rocarpea is common. In the underwood around the town, a Diptero- 

 carpus, arbuscula, foliis maximis, oblongo-cordatis, Gordonia, Lager- 



