116 



TEA DISTRICTS OF CHINA. 



Chap. VII. 



be allowed to go there, as it was full of Chinese 

 troops, who might be exasperated if they caine in 

 contact with those who had vanquished them during 

 the late war. Having all these matters in my mind, 

 I naturally expected to find this a very important 

 place ; but my ideas with regard to its soldiers and 

 riches were not realized. Small villages are scattered 

 over the valleys, but there is no town of importance, 

 and judging from appearances the inhabitants gene- 

 rally are very poor. No fierce soldiers were met 

 with in any part of the island : these, however, might 

 have been withdrawn since 1844. 



The inhabitants, like those of Chusan and Ning-po, 

 are quiet and inoffensive. They were very civil to 

 me, and often treated me with great kindness. They 

 had little to offer but their good will ; and this they 

 showed by asking me to sit down in their houses, or, 

 what was often preferable, under the awning in front 

 of the door. Here they never failed to offer a 

 draught of the national beverage — tea. I do not 

 know anything half so refreshing on a hot summer's 

 day as a cup of tea : I mean pure and genuine as the 

 Chinese drink it, without sugar and milk. It is far 

 better and much more refreshing than either wine or 

 beer. It quenches thirst, is a gentle stimulant, and 

 wards off many of the fevers incident to such a 

 climate. 



If Silver Island is not inhabited by rich men and 

 brave soldiers, nature at least has been most bountiful, 

 for it is one of the most beautiful of the group to 

 which it belongs. On paying it a visit at this time 



