1839] extent and produce of the Tea Plantations in Assam. 197 



years hence, it may be found expedient to advance this frontier post to 

 the top of the Patkai hill, the boundary line of our eastern frontier. 

 Any rupture with Burmah would add to our Tea trade, by taking from 

 them Hookurn and Munkoom, and having the Irrawaddy as our boundary 

 line. These countries are nominally under the Burmese, as they pay a 

 small annual tribute ; but this can never be collected without sendiug 

 an armed force. They are said io be thinly inhabited, the population 

 being kept down by the constant broils and wars, which one petty place 

 makes upon another for the sake of plunder. All the inhabitants drink 

 Tea, but it is not manufactured in our way ; few, it is said, cultivate 

 the plant. I have for years been trying to get some seeds or plants from 

 them, but have never succeeded, on account of the disturbed state in 

 which they live. The leaves of their Tea plants have always been re- 

 presented to me as being much smaller than ours. 



Muttuck is a country that abounds in Tea, and it might be made one 

 extensive, beautiful Tea garden. We have many cultivated experimental 

 tracts in it; we know of numerous extensive uncultivated tracts, and it 

 appears to me that we are only in the infancy of our discoveries as yet. 

 Our Tea, however, is insecure here. It was but a month or two ago that 

 so great an alarm was created, that my people had to retire from our Tea 

 gardens and manufacture at Deenjoy and Chubwa, which will account 

 for the deficiency of this year's crop. Things must continue in this 

 state until the government of the country is finally settled ; for we are 

 at present obliged, in order to follow a peaceful occupation, to have the 

 means of defending ourselves from a sudden attack, ever since the un- 

 fortunate affairs at Sudiya. Before the transfer of the Tea tracts in this 

 country can be made, it will be necessary, in justice to all parties, to 

 know if Muttuck is, or is to become, ours or not. The natives at present 

 are permitted to cultivate as much land as they please, on paying a poll- 

 tax of two rupees per year; so that if the country is not ours, every man 

 employed on the Tea will be subject to be called on for two rupees per 

 annum, to be paid to the old Bura Senaputy's son, as governor of the 

 country. This point is of vital importance to our Tea prospects up here. 

 Many individuals might be induced to take Tea grounds, were they 

 sure, that the soil was ours, and that they would be protected and per- 

 mitted to cultivate it in security. 



In looking forward to the unbounded benefit the discovery of this 

 plant will produce to England, to India, — to Millions, I cannot but 

 thank God for so great a blessing to our country. When I first discover- 

 ed it, some 14 years ago, I little thought that I should have been spared 

 long enough to see it become likely eventually to rival that of China 



