212 



TEA DISTRICTS OF CHINA. 



Chap. XII. 



near it. Its solitary position near the pass, and its 

 great height and beautiful symmetry, made it appear 

 a most striking object. "What could it be? was it 

 new, or did we already possess it in England ?" I 

 must confess that for a few seconds I had eyes for 

 nothing else. Chairs, coolies, and mountains were 

 all forgotten, and I believe, had the guard of Celes- 

 tials attempted to prevent me from going into Fokien, 

 the only boon I should have asked at their hands 

 would have been to be allowed to go and inspect this 

 noble pine. 



The Chinese guard, however, had not the slightest 

 intention of interfering with my movements, and, as 

 the tree was on the roadside, I soon came up to it, 

 and found it to be the Japan cedar {Cryptomeria 

 japonica), a tree which I had already introduced into 

 England, and which, even in a young state, had been 

 greatly admired there. I had never before seen such 

 a noble specimen, and, although I would rather it 

 had been something new, I yet felt proud of having 

 been the means of introducing into Europe a tree of 

 such size, symmetry, and beauty. It was at least 

 one hundred and twenty feet in height, — it might be 

 much more, — as straight as a larch, and had its lower 

 branches drooping to the ground. It had not been 

 "lopped," like other Chinese trees, and was evidently 

 preserved with great care. My Chinamen looked 

 upon it with great admiration, and informed me it 

 was the only specimen of the kind hi this part of the 

 country, and that it had been planted by some former 

 emperor when lie crossed the mountains. 



