196 Report on the manufacture of Tea, and on the [July 



an experiment, and has never been fully worked. The Chinese Green- 

 Tea makers, Canister-makers and Interpreter, have lately been added 

 to the establishment; their services have not as yet been brought into 

 account. We are just now availing ourselves of them by making Green_ 

 Tea ; and as the natives at present placed under them become available, 

 large quantities of excellent Green-Tea will be manufactured. I suppose 

 two Chinamen might qualify twenty-four natives for the first process; 

 the second, as I have already recommended, might be performed in 

 England, which in my humble opinion would effect a great saving, by 

 getting machinery to do the greater part of the work. At all events, 

 it never could be manufactured in Assam without a great expense, and 

 this for want of labourers. However, it is gratifying to see how fast the 

 Chinese acquire the Assamese language; for, after they have been a 

 year in the country, they begin to speak sufficiently well for ail ordina- 

 ry purposes, so that an interpreter can very well be dispensed wilh. Our 

 Chinamen can speak the Assamese language much better than the in- 

 terpreter can the English language. They are a violent, headstrong, 

 and passionate people, more especially as they are aware we are so 

 much in their power. If the many behave as do the few, a Thannah 

 would be necessary to keep them cool. 



With respect to what are called the Singpho Tea tracts, I am sorry 

 to say we have not been able this year to get a leaf from them, on 

 account of the disturbances that have lately occurred there; nor do I 

 believe we shall get any next year, unless we establish a post at Nin- 

 grew, which I think is the cnly effectual way to keep the country 

 quiet, and secure our Tea. The Tea from these tracts is said by the 

 Chinamen to be very fine. Some of the tracts are very extensive, and 

 many may run for miles into the jungles for what we know ; the whole 

 of the country is capable of being turned into a vast Tea garden, the soil 

 being excellent, and well adapted for the growth of Tea. On both 

 sides of the Buri-Dehing river the Tea grows indigenous; it may be 

 traced from tract to tract to Hookum, thus forming a chain of Tea tracts 

 from the I rrawaddy to the borders of China, east of Assam. Ever since 

 my residence at Sudiya this has been confirmed year after year by many 

 of my Kamtee, Singpho, and Dewaneah acquaintances, who have tra- 

 versed this route. It is therefore important for us to look well to our 

 Eastern frontier, on account of our capability to extend our Tea cultiva- 

 tion in that direction. England alone consumes 31,829,620 lbs. nearly 

 four laks of maunds, annually. To supply so vast a quantity of Tea, it 

 will be necessary to cultivate all the hills and valleys of Assam ; and on 

 this very account a post at Ningrew becomes doubly seeessary. A few 



