368 



TEA DISTRICTS OF CHINA. Chap. XXII. 



CHAPTER XXII. 



Ordered to inspect the tea-plantations in India — Deyra Doon planta- 

 tion — Mussooree and Landour — Flora of the mountains — Height 

 and general character — Our mode of travelling — Hill-plants 

 resemble those of China — Guddowli plantation — Chinese manu- 

 facturers located there — I bid them farewell — The country im- 

 proves in fertility — Tea-plantations near Almorah — Zemindaree 

 plantations — Leave Almorah for Bheem Tal — View of the Snowy 

 range — Bheem Tal tea-plantations — General observations on tea 

 culture in India — Suggestions for its improvement — Other plants 

 which ought to be introduced — Nainee Tal — Arrive at Calcutta — 

 The Victoria regia. 



Soon after my arrival at Saharunpore I received 

 through the Lieutenant - Governor of the North- 

 Western Provinces orders from the Governor-General 

 of India to visit all the tea plantations in the districts 

 of Gurhwal and Kumaon, and to draw up a report 

 upon their condition and future prospects. In this 

 tour of inspection I was accompanied by Dr. Jame- 

 son, who has the charge of all the Government tea 

 plantations. The first plantations we visited were 

 those in the Deyra Doon. 



The Deyra Doon, or Valley of Deyra, is situated 

 in latitude 30° 18' north, and in longitude 78° east. 

 It is about 60 miles in length from east to west, and 

 16 miles broad at its widest part. It is bounded on 

 the south by the Sewalick range of hills, and on the 

 north by the Himalayas proper, which are here nearly 



