228 



TEA DISTRICTS OF CHINA. 



Chap. XIII. 



While the high-priest was listening to Sing-Hoo he 

 drew out of his tobacco-pouch a small quantity of 

 Chinese tobacco, rolled it for a moment between his 

 finger and thumb, and then presented it to me to 

 fill my pipe with. This practice is a common one 

 amongst the inhabitants of these hills, and indicates, 

 I suppose, that the person to whom it is presented is 

 welcome. It was evidently kindly meant, so, taking 

 it in the same kind spirit, I lighted my pipe and 

 began to smoke. 



In the mean time our host led me into his best 

 room, and, desiring me to take a seat, he called the 

 boy, and ordered him to bring us some tea. And 

 now I drank the fragrant herb, pure and unadul- 

 terated, on its native hills. It had never been half 

 so grateful before, or I had never been so much 

 in need of it ; for I was hot, thirsty, and weary, after 

 ascending the hill under a burning sun. The tea 

 soon quenched my thirst and revived my spirits, and 

 called to my mind the words of a Chinese author, 

 who says, " Tea is exceedingly useful ; cultivate it, 

 and the benefit will be widely spread ; drink it, and 

 the animal spirits will be lively and clear." 



Although I can speak enough of the Chinese lan- 

 guage to make myself understood in several districts 

 of the country, I judged it prudent not to enter into 

 a lengthened conversation with the priests at this 

 temple. I left the talking part of the business to be 

 done by my servant, who was quite competent to 

 speak for us both. They were therefore told that 

 1 could not speak the language of the district, and 



