96 TEA DISTRICTS OF CHINA. Chap. VI, 



CHAPTER VI. 



My reception in the house of Wang's father — A smoky Chinese 

 cottage — My coolie and the dwarf — The dangers to which they 

 had been exposed — Chinese mode of warming themselves on a 

 cold day — Tea-seeds, &c, obtained — Anecdote of the new 

 Berberis — Obtain some young plants of it — Deceitful character 

 of the Chinese — Leave the far-famed Sung-lo-shan — Wang tries 

 to cheat the chairmen — Invents a story of a "great general" — 

 Leave Tun-che — Mountain scenery — Pleasure of going down the 

 river — Gale of wind amongst the mountains — Arrive at Nechow 

 — Shaou-hing-foo — Tsaou-o — Pak-wan — Arrive at Ning-po. 



After this digression on the green-tea shrub, and 

 the country where it was first found, I now resume 

 the account of my travels. 



When we reached the Sung-lo country I took up 

 my quarters in a house which belonged to the father 

 of my servant Wang. It was nearly dark before we 

 arrived at the house, which was situated amongst the 

 hills within two miles of the foot of Sung-lo. Had I 

 fixed upon the spot myself I could not have found 

 one better suited to the purposes I had in view. 

 Old Mr. Wang was a farmer who at one time had 

 been well off in the world, but, like many others, had 

 been unfortunate, and was now very much reduced 

 in circumstances. He received us in the kindest 

 manner, and seemed to have great affection for his 

 son. His wife also came to welcome us, at the same 

 time apologising for the poor reception they gave us, 



