142 



RETURN TO TEA-DISTRICTS. Chap. Ylll. 



CHAPTEE YIII. 



Return to the tea-districts of Chekiang — Mode of making collections 

 of seeds amongst Chinese peasantry — Messengers sent to Moo-yuen 

 and Ping-shuy — Ping- shuy teas — Agricultural and Horticultural 

 Society of India — Yarnish-tree — Wax-insect tree — Soap-tree — 

 Death and funeral of a Buddhist priest — New blue dye — Its cul- 

 tivation and manufacture — " Green indigo " — Its introduction to 

 India and Europe. 



The events recorded in tlie last chapter spread 

 themselves over more than a year of time, namely, 

 from the autumn of 1853 to the spring of 1855, 

 and their relation, in order to present them in a 

 connected form, has carried me somewhat in 

 advance of my narrative. It is now necessary to 

 go back to the beginning of October, 1853. Having 

 finished my work in Shanghae, I took my departure 

 for the tea-districts in Chekiang in order to make 

 collections of seeds and plants for the government 

 plantations in the Himalaya. 



When I arrived amongst the tea-hills in that 

 province, I found the seeds of the tea-plant just 

 ripe, and all my old friends busily employed in 

 collecting them in anticipation of my arrival. In 

 my earlier experience with the Chinese things 

 were much more difficult than they were now. 

 Then the country-people used to fly from me 

 whenever I appeared amongst them, and I was 



