336 



TEA DISTRICTS OF CHINA. 



Chap. XIX. 



and boasted of its gardens and pretty fish-ponds. 

 When I first saw these gardens they were mostly in 

 a ruinous condition, and everywhere exhibited the 

 fatal effects of war. Many beautiful plants, however, 

 still continued to grow and scramble about over the 

 ruined walls. Captain Hall, of the Madras army, 

 who was stationed there for some time, was very fond 

 of botany, and took great pleasure in pointing out to 

 me all the plants which he met with in his rambles. 

 "I have good news for you," said he one morning 

 when I met him ; " come with me and I will show 

 you the most beautiful plant on the island. I have 

 just discovered it. It is a creeper, produces fine long 

 racemes of lilac flowers before it puts forth its leaves, 

 and is deliciously fragrant." What could it be ? was 

 it new ? would it produce perfect seeds ? or could 

 young plants be procured to send home ? were ques- 

 tions which rapidly suggested themselves. It is only 

 the enthusiastical botanical collector who can form an 

 idea of the amount of excitement and "pleasure there 

 is when one fancies he is on the eve of finding a new 

 and beautiful flower. Captain Hall led the way, and 

 we soon reached the spot where the plant grew. 

 There had been no exaggeration in his description ; 

 there it was, covering an old wall, and scrambling up 

 the branches of the adjoining trees; it bore long 

 racemes of pea-shaped flowers, and scented the sur- 

 rounding air with its odours. Need I say it was the 

 beautiful Wistaria ? But it was not found in a wild 

 state even at Amoy, and had evidently been brought 

 from more northern latitudes. 



