100 



TEA DISTEICTS OF CHIXA. 



Chap. VI. 



of the plant now and then when he is unwell, and 

 therefore he will not part with it." This was very 

 provoking, but the Chinese were firm, and there was 

 nothing for it but to go, as sailors say, " upon another 

 tack." This I determined to do. " Well, at all 

 events," said I, " let me see the plant ; don't be 

 afraid, I shall not touch it." For some time they 

 refused to do even this, but through Wang's influ- 

 ence they were at last induced to consent, and led 

 the way down to a small cottage-garden, completely 

 covered with weeds. There the beautiful shrub was 

 growing apparently neglected and left to " bloom 

 unseen." It seemed very valuable in the uncle's 

 estimation, and he would not part with it, although 

 I tried hard to induce him to do so. It might be 

 that he really valued its medicinal properties, but, as 

 it must be common enough in that part of the coun- 

 try, he could easily have replaced it: it was not 

 unlikely, therefore, that he supposed I should offer 

 some very large sum to induce him to part with it. 



On the following day another relation of Wang's 

 came to me in a secret manner, and informed me 

 that he was acquainted with another place where the 

 same plant was to be had, and that for a consider- 

 ation he would go and fetch some of it for me. 

 I engaged him at once, merely telling him that he 

 must bring young plants with good roots, otherwise 

 they would be entirely useless to me. This he 

 faithfully promised to do, and he kept his word. In 

 the course of the day he returned with three good 

 plants, which he sold to me, and which I afterwards 



