274 



TEA DISTRICTS OF CHINA. Chap. XVI. 



urged now, however, as I have visited both the green- 

 tea country of Hwuy-chow, and the black-tea districts 

 about Woo-e-shan, and during these long journeys 

 I have seen no reason to alter the opinions I had pre- 

 viously formed upon the subject. 



It is quite true that the Chinese rarely make the 

 two kinds of tea in one district, but this is more for 

 the sake of convenience and from custom than for any 

 other reason. The workmen, too, generally make 

 that kind of tea best with which they have had most 

 practice. But while this is generally the case in the 

 great tea districts, there are some exceptions. It is 

 now well known that the fine Moning districts near 

 the Poyang Lake, which are daily rising in import- 

 ance on account of the superior character of their 

 black teas, formerly produced nothing else but green 

 teas. At Canton green and black teas are made from 

 the Thea bohea at the pleasure of the manufacturer, 

 and according to demand. 



But I must relate an occurrence that took place on 

 my arrival at Calcutta, which is more curious than 

 the making of black and green teas from one variety 

 or species of the tea-plant. I was then on my way to the 

 Government tea plantations in the north-west provinces 

 of India, with six Chinese tea-manufacturers, and a 

 large supply of plants and implements used in making 

 tea. Dr. Falconer, of the Calcutta garden, with 

 whom we were staying for a few days, expressed a 

 wish to see the process of tea manufacture, and asked 

 me to communicate his wishes to the Chinamen. He 

 also invited the late Mr. Bethune and some other 



