294 



COLLECTIONS SHIPPED FOR INDIA. Chap. XIV. 



CHAPTEK XIV. 



Season's collections shipped for India — Ancient porcelain vase — 

 Chinese dealers — Joined by two friends — Inland journey — City 

 of Yu-yaou — Fine rice district — Appearance and conduct of 

 natives — Laughable occurrence with an avaricious boatman — Soil 

 and rocks of district — Village of Ne-ka-loo and Chinese inn — 

 Shores of the bay of Hang-chow — Salt and its manufacture — 

 Curious moonlight journey — Rapid tides — Passage junk — Voyage 

 across the bay — Chinese sailors — Arrive at Kan-poo. 



During the succeeding winter and spring months 

 I was engaged in packing and dispatching to India 

 and Europe the numerous collections of plants, 

 seeds, and other objects of natural history which I 

 had formed in the summer and autumn. Large 

 quantities of implements used in the manufacture 

 of tea were also sent to India at this time, destined 

 for the government plantations in the Himalayas 

 and Punjab. I had been unceasing in my endea- 

 vours to procure some first-rate black-tea makers 

 from the best districts in the interior of the pro- 

 vinces of Fokien and Kiangse, but up to this time 

 I had not succeeded. This was by far the most 

 difficult part of my mission, but as the services of 

 such men were absolutely necessary in order to 

 carry on the great tea experiment which the 

 government of India had in hand, I determined 

 not to leave China until I had accomplished the 



