344 



TEA DISTRICTS OF CHINA. 



Chap. XX. 



edict of this kind was sure to create a considerable 

 sensation, not only amongst the Chinese, but also 

 amongst the importers of the drug. The best in- 

 formed, however, and those who had some experience 

 of the character of the Chinese, treated it as so much 

 waste paper — as a collection of high-sounding words 

 without meaning. Nor were they wrong, for when 

 the new year arrived the edict had been long forgot- 

 ten, and opium-smokers went on smoking as they had 

 done before. 



The Chusan people had received the edict about 

 the time of my visit, and this old gentleman evi- 

 dently knew all about it. "Well," said I to him, 

 " how is this ? you were smoking opium last night ; 

 have you not seen the edict ? " " Oh yes," he 

 replied, " but it does not come into force until next 

 year." Every night afterwards during my stay here 

 he used to walk into my room about nine o'clock with 

 a smile on his countenance and say, "I am going to 

 smoke now ; you know I shall not be allowed to 

 smoke next year." And I firmly believe the old 

 man smoked more than he had been accustomed to 

 do, and likewise enjoyed it more. 



As I have given a full description of the island of 

 Chusan in my former work, I shall not again describe 

 it ; but I must not fail to notice a fruit which is cul- 

 tivated on the sides of the hills here, and in various 

 parts of the province of Chekiang. It is called the 

 Yang-mae, and appears to be a species of Myrica, 

 allied to the Himalayan 31. sapida, noticed by Frazer, 

 Eoyle, and other writers. The Chinese variety is, 



